Project Title

Promoting Opportunities for Women Empowerment and Rights(POWER)

Activity Number 28317

Period Covered Quarter 4 October to December 2016

Country Bangladesh, Ghana, Pakistan, Rwanda

Partners: Ghana (Songtaba, Bonatadu, Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD), Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA) and Social Development and Improvement Agency (SODIA), , Rwanda ( Faith Victory Association, Duhozanye and Tubibe Amahoro), Bangladesh SKS Foundation, and Pakistan (Saiban Development Foundation & NIDA)

Target group: 21,000 rural women (*smallholder farmers and producers) (6,000 Ghana, 6,000 Rwanda, 5,000 Bangladesh, 4,000 Pakistan) and 6,000 men (3,000 Ghana, 1,000 Rwanda, 1,000 Bangladesh, 1,000 Pakistan) local authorities, Government ministries, FAO African Union and South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Location: Ghana (Nanumba North and South Districts, Talensi, Nabdam, Jirapa, Asutifi South, Tain and Adaklu districts), Rwanda (Nyanza, Gisagara and Nyaruguru Districts in the Southern Province, Musanze District in the Nothern Province and Karongi District in Western Province), Bangladesh (Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat Districts) and Pakistan (Mansehra and Shangla Districts)

Long-term objective:

To contribute to the increased economic empowerment of women in Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Specific objectives: 21,000 women in Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan have increased income and ability to control their income, through practicing CRSA, accessing markets and reducing, recognising and redistributing unpaid care work.

Results/Outputs/Activities Progress against Outcomes/Outputs/Activities

Project start up activities

Staff recruitment and Induction

Project staff recruited All project staff recruitment has been completed and no changes took place in Bangladesh, Ghana and Rwanda. In Pakistan, the POWER Project Manager was recently promoted to be the interim Head of Programs (HoP) of ActionAid Pakistan. In December 2016, AAP immediately advertised the position of Project Manager. AAP will consider internal candidates with the relevant skills and experience as a priority as they are already familiar with the project. In the meantime the HoP continues to steer the project and a smooth handover is planned once the project manager is recruited. In AAUK the Senior Manager - Multi Country Projects has gone on Maternity leave from December 2016 and maternity cover has been contracted to support the project.

Project staff inducted into organisation's (ActionAid/partner) systems and processes

All project staff in Rwanda, Ghana, Bangladesh and Pakistan has been inducted on ActionAid, donor and partners’ systems and processes to ensure smooth implementation of the project.

Project Inception Project Inception

International project inception workshop (1 x 5 day workshop with AA country and AA international representatives)

The international inception workshop was completed in Nairobi in July 2016 and key project staff from countries, ActionAid UK and ActionAid International participated. This was reported on in previous reports.

National project inception workshop (4 x 5 day workshop - (1 per country) with all national AA and partner staff)

Rwanda, Ghana and Bangladesh, have also completed national inception workshops as reported in previous quarters. Pakistan completed a 3 day national inception workshop on 14-16 December 2016. The workshop participants POWER project staff, including partner staff, ActionAid project staff and ActionAid Pakistan Country Program’s regional and country office staff. The main objective was to orient staff on ActionAid’s working approach, POWER project’s Theory of Change, project log frame, activities, and to have a shared understanding of the key programmatic concepts such as unpaid care work, violence against women, climate resilient sustainable agriculture, and their intersectionality. Another objective of this workshop was to familiarize participants about the relevant project audit and financial systems, MEL systems, different reporting processes, and donor compliance. The workshop used different participatory approaches including exercises, group works, puzzles and diagrams for interactive learning. The Dutch ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Jeannette Seppen, also attended the final day of the workshop. Discussions were held on workshop outputs and the objectives of Dutch support for this project. Partners also shared their expectations and hopes with the Dutch government in terms of required support for expansion of this work in more districts, providing a link with Dutch private sector and other future opportunities. She admired the hard work of participants and showed her interest to visit the field if security permits in future.

Detailed implementation and planning workshop (annual with all staff and community activists to share project plans to support community engagement and building of trust) accountability and transparency Pakistan only

In December 2016, an implementation and planning workshop was conducted for NIDA-Pakistan’s project staff in order to set project plans for the first quarter of 2017 as this partner has recently completed their start-up activities, including recruitment and the selection of their project implementation area. In this meeting, women’s group formation processes and criteria for facilitator selection was discussed and agreed upon to complete women’s group formation in the first quarter of 2017. Participants developed an action plan for women’s group formation process activities, including initial meetings with key activists of each selected Union Council for project sharing and villages mapping; broad based community meetings at village level with women and men; conducting social mapping and poverty ranking for right holders’ identification; and identifying women to join women’s groups. A more detailed annual implementation planning workshop is planned in January 2017.

National project launch event /s The national project launch event had been completed in Rwanda, Ghana and Bangladesh in previous quarters. In Pakistan, this is planned for the first

quarter of 2017.

Outcome 1: By the end of 2020 21,000 rural women are organised and are able to demand their rights as farmers and carers and have greater influence in their households and communities

21,000 women are organised in groups and actively participating in group activities by the end of the project Progress: 19,206

Target: 21,000

Baseline: 0

A total of 19,206 rural women (6,000 in Rwanda, 6,400 in Ghana, 5,000 in Bangladesh, 1,806 in Pakistan) have been organised into groups and are actively participating in group meetings in the four countries. Women have been able to engage with local leaders, traditional leaders as way of demanding their rights. In Ghana, Rwanda and Bangladesh rural women are now actively involved in empowering activities such as voluntary savings and loans and group farming. In all countries women’s groups have been able to meet at least once a month. In Rwanda, 6,000 women are organised into 200 groups in five districts (LRPs) namely Musanze with 36, Nyanza with 54, Nyaruguru with 20, Karongi with 36 and Gisagara with 54. Each group is made up of 30 women members and generally meet regularly at least once a month but the majority of the groups meet once a week according to each group’s internal regulations. In Gisagara district, with a total of 54 women’s groups, 42 groups meet twice a month while 12 groups meet once. The participation of members in REFLECT/group meetings is 97% on average in all Districts though in Nyaruguru women’s group participation was at 100% during quarter 4. All women participate in group activities, mainly farming, savings (Voluntary Saving Loans) and meetings. In Ghana, 6,400 women in 200 rural women’s groups have been organized and meet regularly. The membership of each of the groups is 32 rural women comprising widows, processors, and female headed households. The 4th quarter recorded a higher level of attendance to meetings with 70% (4,200) women meeting 3 times a week and 1,800 women meeting twice a month. All groups have had meetings with traditional leaders and the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to sensitize women and their communities on their rights. Discussions on rights awareness, violence against women and unpaid care with traditional leaders have taken place in project areas. To make the groups more effective, the project officers attended Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and Refection Action training in the 3rd quarter of 2016 and step down training has been carried out at district level for 200 community facilitators. In Bangladesh, 5,000 women have been organised into 200 groups. A total of 800 meetings have been held and women have discussed key issues including opening of bank accounts, group savings, and home vegetable gardens. The women target to meet at least four times a month. The women are actively participating in group and community activities including small business and income generating activities, collection of financial contributions from the community for 9 day care centres, participation in residential training on sewing and embroidery. The project has seen several achievements of the groups, for example, 200 women’s groups initiated saving schemes and are now depositing BDT10-20 per week. In terms of economic empowerment, bank accounts have been opened for 82 women’s reflection-action circles, and a bank account was also opened for 7 day care centres for community contributions. 18 women leaders from 5 groups received 3 month long residential training on business skills, sewing and embroidery and through lobbying and advocacy with Upazila Youth department, 11 women’s groups obtained trade licenses from the Union Parishad (UP- local government). In terms of climate resilient sustainable agriculture (CRSA), women started homestead and bed vegetable cultivation using CRSA technology (pit, pot, bucket, use few seed per pit, high pit, and compost pit preparation and used compost) which has contributed to improved food security. In addition, 2 new day care centres were set up in Gaibandha district. Gondharaj women of Burail village under Udakhali UP established an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) school through communication with Upazila Agriculture Extension Office (AE). Now they regularly learn new agricultural techniques through sessions, and receive different improved vegetables seeds like eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower. By this quarter, 94 women participants got ration cards (3 month long), and 4 women got maternity allowance from UP as a result of communication, lobbying and advocacy efforts of the women’s groups and federation leaders.

In Pakistan, 1,806 women are organized in 45 women’s groups in district Mansehra by Saibaan Development Organization. These women have been organized in groups following participatory approaches. Women’s group members are mainly permanent residents in the villages directly involved in farming activities, collection of wood for fuel, fetching water from long distances and are very vulnerable due to high levels of poverty. After group formation, 45 groups conducted their monthly meetings in November and December 2016. Overall 90 group meetings were organized. 2,145 women, including 1,806 regular members of women’s groups, attended these meetings and on average 47 women attended each women’s group meeting. Key action points from group meetings included; selection of group facilitators, increase in women’s group membership, finalization of selected women right holders for fodder cutters, taking nominations for participation in sensitization and capacity building sessions, planning for REFLECT and Rights Based Approach training, sharing of time diary tools with women’s groups.

70% of targeted women report increased skills and confidence demanding their rights and reporting cases of violence by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

50% of women report having greater control over resources in their households by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

60% of target communities in each country in which a majority of sampled women report greater presence of women on community structures by the end of the project

In all four countries, women have already reported greater presence in community structures. This indicator will be measured more appropriately next year. The women are actively participating in group meetings, in Bangladesh for example, the project has monitored a selected sample of five community structures in the project area (Nari and Shisu Nirjatan Protirodth Committee, Parents teachers association (PTA), Village Development Committee (VDC), Market Management Committee, and Legal Aid Committee). The total membership of the five community structures is 174, where the number of women is 69 and the number of men is 105.

OUTPUT 1.1 690 women's groups (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh, 90 Pakistan) are set up and/or strengthened in their community by December 2016 Countries

1.1.a: 690 groups meeting at least once per month Progress: 645

Target: 690

Baseline: 0

A total of 690 groups (200 in Rwanda, 200 in Bangladesh, 200 in Ghana, 45 in Pakistan) have been organised and are meeting at least once per month. Some of the groups meeting more than once a month and the regularity of the meetings depend on the group agreement. The groups have been strengthened through training on group formation and financial management to keep the financial records of voluntary savings. The groups have also agreed on their own internal management structures with most groups having a group leader, facilitator, and secretary. The groups have met and discussed key issues of concern such as concerns with the prolonged drought in Rwanda, savings, how to claim and benefit from government service provision, savings schemes in Bangladesh, mobility and access to land in Ghana and group membership in Pakistan. In Rwanda, rural women have different issues affecting them in the community with emphasis on women rights analysis, power analysis, daily activity chart of women, income and expenditure matrix. They also do money saving in the meetings. All groups reported a challenge of prolonged drought that has reduced the performance of crops. The groups decided to sell their agricultural produce especially beans at higher price. In Bangladesh, The main issues discussed by the 200 women reflection action circles included, group solidarity/collectivism, addressing dowry, early marriage and its negative impacts, trade license collection, how to claim and benefit from government’s service provision to the public, rights and women rights analysis, saving schemes, opening bank account and collective business initiative for the women groups and operation of operations and management of day care centre. Actions and achievements from

AAR, AAP, AAG, AAB

meetings so far have been reported above. In Ghana, by the end of the 4th quarter 2016, 200 rural women groups have been attending regular monthly group meetings. A group member from Upper West Region said, ‘it is a good practice for women to be organized and have regular meetings to discuss their issues together. The group meetings are one way I can change my life style. And I am committed to attend group meetings under the POWER project with AAG and its partner’. In Pakistan, 90 group meetings were organized and on average 47 women attended each women’s group meeting. These meetings were organized to orientate women on project objectives and processes and to facilitate the process of beneficiary identification for project interventions. Through these meetings Reflect Facilitators also explained their role to women’s groups, and ToRs of the facilitators were shared.

1.1.b: 850 facilitators and staff trained on the HRBA and REFLECT methodologies by the end of 2016 Progress: 661

Target: 850

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, 400 group facilitators (two facilitators per group and 11 partner staff) were trained on HRBA and REFLECT Methodologies through a 5 day training. Participants were group leaders and their deputies, and all were women. For partner staff, participants were 11 project staff, 4 women and 6 men. Trainings took place in the LRPs near to group working sites. Training covered the topics include HRBA concept, HRBA Principles, Human Rights based approach, context and trends of poverty, inequality and injustice, HRBA programming areas: empowerment, solidarity, campaigning. Refresher training on HRBA is planned in 2017 In Bangladesh, 47 community mobilisers were trained as reported in previous quarters. As part of capacity building initiative, Community Mobilizers have received training on Climate Resilience Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA), Time Diary Use, and Violence Against Women Reporting Mechanisms. In Ghana, 201, comprising 70 male and 131 female, community facilitators have improved skills on Human Rights Based Approach and Reflection Action methodology; they have built skills in group dynamics, micro facilitation and action planning, including citizen government engagement processes discussed through role plays and drama during the workshop process. Community facilitators now have increased understanding of the project objectives, as well as improved knowledge of women rights and how to use the various tools for action planning. The training was held at two levels; one for AAG and partner staff for 10 days and at the district level with community facilitators for 2 weeks for the new facilitators, and 8 days for existing facilitators. At the end of the trainings action plans were drawn up to support groups to organize their meetings well, based on the key project outcomes. In Pakistan, this activity will be undertaken in 2017

AAR, AAP, AAG, AAB

1.1.c: 90% of partner staff, community mobilisers and Reflect facilitators with improved knowledge of HRBA and Reflect methodologies by the end of 2016 Progress: 100%

Target: 90%

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, 100% of the 400 trained facilitators, group co-facilitators and 10 partner staff have improved knowledge of HRBA and Reflect methodologies. The rural women trained have improved capacity to claim their rights as rural women through community advocacy events/commemorations and are able to use REFLECT methodology to organize and coordinate their respective groups and to use HRBA REFLECT tools to analyze different community’s issues affecting rural women in the community and lead plans to find solutions within group members or through advocacy moments or community structures assemblies. In Bangladesh, this was completed and reported in previous quarters. In Ghana, 100% of the 201 trained of community facilitators, partner project officers and AAG staff have gained significant skills and knowledge in reflection action methodologies and HRBA through training conducted by AAG in collaboration with Global Platform, a training hub in West Africa located in Tamale. The training made use of a lot of group work and discussions using graphic

AAR, AAP, AAG, AAB

construction tools such as problem three, chapatti diagram, body map, work load calendars mobility maps, public service maps, community maps, income and expenditure wallet, income and expenditure tree. Feedback from participants indicated that the learning by doing method eased the burden on participants and enabled them to learn at their own pace. In Pakistan, this activity will be undertaken in 2017

Activities which contribute to Output 1.1:

1.1.1 Support 690 (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh, 90 Pakistan) women groups with a total membership of 21,000 members (rural women, farmers and processors) to meet at least once a month by providing stipends for group facilitators/mobilisers.

645 (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh and 45 Pakistan) women’s groups with a total membership of 19,206 women are meeting at least once a month. In Ghana, Rwanda and Bangladesh facilitators have been provided with stipends for group facilitators and mobilisers. The women’s groups are supported with training on CRSA, women’s rights, violence against women and reflection action. In Rwanda, all groups are recognised by local authorities at the community level. Each group has a facilitator and all are women. The facilitators provide monthly reports on group activities, progress and challenges which are submitted to partner officer. Each facilitator receives facilitation fees equals to 10,000 Rwf ($12) on monthly to cover her transport and communication. In Bangladesh, 200 women’s groups with a total membership of 5000 women in 10 unions of Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts (Kulaghat, Harati, Mogolhat, Rajpur, Khuniagachi). Between October and December 2016, Community Mobilizers facilitated regular weekly reflection-action meetings with 200 women’s groups under the guidance of the Project Officers. During this period, a monthly stipend for the 40 Community Mobilizers (Female-34, Male-6) was deposited to their individual bank account in order for them to facilitate the meetings. In Ghana, women’s groups met twice a month in 2016. The community mobilisers supported partners to mount community sensitization meetings in all project communities as part of their group meetings. 200 community facilitators (comprising 30 males and 171 females) have been provided with stipends as their annual motivation package in all the 8 districts. Their packages varied from region to region. In the Northern region they were provided with T’shirts and plastic chairs based on discussions with them on what they need, similar things were also provided in Brong Ahafo region. In Upper West, cloths were provided to all community facilitators and in Upper East, they were supported with rice and cloths.. Going forward, AAG is in the process of developing uniform packages for all community facilitators. Their support and guidance enabled 6,400 women to continue to take part in their groups meetings in all the eight districts mentioned above. In Pakistan, the women’s group formation process in Mansehra district has been completed. In addition, wider community consultation processes have been carried out through social mapping and wellbeing analysis. The consultations were meant to understand more about community dynamics including geographical information, livelihood bases, farming activities, community governance, basic market information and poverty levels.

1.1.2 Select and train 850 community facilitators, management committee members, community mobilisers and partner staff in HRBA and REFLECT facilitation methodologies (100 facilitators and 40 partner staff through 8 district workshops of 10 days + 250 community members through 5 community level trainings of 5 days in Ghana; 400 committee members and 10 partner staff trained through a five day

In Rwanda, the project organized a 5-day training for 400 group facilitators (2 representatives per group, all women), and 10 partner staff (4 women and 6 men) on HRBA and REFLECT Methodologies. . Trainings took place in the LRPs near to group working sites. The training empowered women to organize and apply REFLECT methodologies in managing REFLECT cycles. Participants were also trained on the concept of unpaid care work and the effect of UCW on women’s rights enjoyment. They were also trained on how to achieved UCW recognition, redistribution, reduction and representation. In Bangladesh, this activity was completed and reported in Quarter two of 2016 - 40 community mobilisers have been trained. In Ghana, 100 new community facilitators were identified, recruited and trained as facilitators on HRBA and reflection action methodologies across all the districts. 8 district level workshops were held for is 10 days each. 200 facilitators have improved knowledge in Reflection Action methods, micro facilitation skills, and HRBA. Monitoring visits were done by all field officers in the 4th quarter, including the National level Projector Coordinator and

workshop in each district of Rwanda; 40 facilitators, mobilisers and partner staff trained in Bangladesh; 100 facilitators trained in Pakistan)

AAG regional teams, to ascertain the level of the trainings conducted at the district level. Through the meetings and negotiations between the women groups and their community leaders, four communities gave out land for the construction of child care centres. This has been possible as a result of the trainings conducted and the support from community facilitators to the women groups and their entire communities. In Pakistan, 45 women Reflect facilitators were also identified. These facilitators are from the village communities, have middle or above middle level education (the last year for Middle school in Pakistani education system), and are willing to actively participate in project activities. The women facilitators have demonstrated capacity to facilitate group meetings and to provide guidance to women participants to complete time diary cards, take meeting minutes, keep financial records and plan for women group discussions. Women group facilitators are guided by Terms of Reference written in local language which clearly indicates their roles and responsibilities for accountability purposes. NIDA partner has identified and mapped out the geographical area for group formation and planned to form women groups in the first quarter of 2017. Saibaan partner has completed group formation process in quarter four 2016 with a total of 45 women’s groups and NIDA partner plans to complete in the first quarter of 2017. Therefore facilitators will be trained in the first quarter of 2017.

1.1.3 Provide refresher training for community facilitators, committee members, community mobilisers and partner staff in HRBA and REFLECT methodologies. (Two refresher trainings for 100 existing facilitators (Y1) + Two workshops annually for existing facilitators in Ghana; Eight annual refresher trainings - 1 per district in Rwanda; 20 refresher trainings (2 per union) in Bangladesh; 100 facilitators trained in Pakistan)

In Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan this activity is to start in 2017 as per the project plan. In Ghana, 100 co-facilitators in Northern and Upper East Regions covering Nanumba North and South, Talinse and Nabdam districts were trained in similar areas with much emphasis on tools such as force field analysis, Chapatti diagram, problem tree, income and expenditure matrix, access and control matrix and body map for the first time as part of the POWER activities in 2016.

1.1.4 2 representatives from 690 women's groups are trained in organisational management, financial management, participatory monitoring and collectivism in practice. (2 representatives in Ghana; 2 representatives in Rwanda; 2 representatives in Bangladesh and 2 representatives in Pakistan) (Bangladesh -200 women's groups are trained in Collectivsm in practice through 200, 2 day workshop)

In Rwanda, the project organized a five day training for 400 women smallholder farmers (from 200 groups) to empower them with skills of organisational and financial management, participatory monitoring and collectivism. Each group was represented by two women. These skills are applied within women’s groups to establish a good working environment and good management of Voluntary Savings and Lending (VSLs). The trainings were organized near to groups’ working sites to ensure participants could attend. The training equipped trainees with capacities and competencies towards their professional organizations so that leaders and members are able to hold them accountable, and they can manage their groups effectively, including reporting skills and how to keep group money, savings and credit records professionally. In Bangladesh, 398 women from 200 groups attended 2 day non-residential trainings (18 batches) on collectivism in practice and financial management this quarter. Reshma Rani, a training participant and member of Chameli Women’s Group of Pashchim Salua village under Udakhali Union of Gaibnadha said, ``It is very difficult to take any action individually, but it becomes easy if we collectively face the difficulties. From this training we learnt the importance of being together’’. 400 women leaders (200 from Gaibandha and 200 from Lalmonirhat) also attended a 2-day non-residential training on Financial Management. The major training topics included; group saving registers update, bill/cash memos, payment vouchers, cash book and ledger book update and maintenance. At the end of the training participants have understood about record keeping, vouchers, cash book, pass book, book accounts and posting in ledger books. This training will also be beneficial to individual women at household level as it will help to understand family income and expenditure processes.

In Pakistan and Ghana this activity is in the 2017 plans. Training on participatory budget monitoring has been shifted to 2017 in Bangladesh

1.1.5 430 women groups registered as collectives/obtain trade licences /business commencement certificates (dependent on country context -180 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh, 50 Ghana)

The 200 women’s groups that the project works with consists of 94 pre-existing groups and 106 newly formed groups. 90 of the existing groups obtained their business license in the 3

rd quarter of 2016. The remaining 4 groups applied for their business license in this quarter and obtained it

from the Union Parishad with the support of POWER project staff. This means that at end of the 4th

quarter 94 women groups (54 from Gaibandha and 40 from Lalmonirhat) have business licenses which enable their businesses to legally operate in the country. Currently the 106 newly formed women’s groups are not eligible for business licenses; they will qualify and apply when they launch their income generating activities. POWER project is providing the necessary support to the groups to undergo the process of obtaining licenses or registration, including costs such as application, travel and collection costs. In Pakistan, Ghana and Rwanda this activity is in the 2017 plans.

OUTPUT 1.2 21,000 (6,000 Ghana, 6,000 Rwanda, 5,000 Bangladesh, 4,000 Pakistan) rural women are trained about their rights and how to report and respond to cases of VAW by December 2017

1.2.a: 21,000 women trained about their rights and VAW reporting mechanisms by the end of 2017 Progress: 4400

Target: 21,000

Baseline: 0

4,510 women (Rwanda 400, Ghana 4,000 women, Bangladesh 2) have been trained about their rights, and 508 women have been trained on Violence Against Women reporting mechanisms. In addition, 47 project staff and community mobilisers were also trained to support the women on Violence Against Women reporting mechanisms. In Rwanda, the project organized training for 400 women, two women from each of 200 groups, and training was held in five districts for three days on women’s rights and how to report VAW cases. Training was facilitated by an external gender expert, and co-facilitated by a policewoman in charge of VAW/GBV. Trainings were organized at each district level near groups’ working sites. Training covered gender equality and women’s human rights in order to reduce Gender Based Violence. Women have been trained on how to report incidences of VAW and group facilitators have been given a reporting tool for incidences of VAW in communities. Cascade training has in turn trained others in the women’s groups. In Bangladesh, two women leaders of the Upazila Federation of Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat district and forty seven project staff and Community Mobilizers have received two days training on violence against women and reporting mechanisms. The training topics included human rights, violence against women, pre-violence strategy, post-violence strategy, service providing institutions, reporting and documentation of the case, case follow-ups, advocacy, networking and campaign and the role of the mass media. In Ghana, the activity has been carried out at the community and group level in the form of sensitization with the entire community and with the specific women’s groups. 4000 women have received specific training about their rights and violence against women reporting mechanisms. The implementation of this activity has aided the demand for rights such as lands for farming and awareness on the negative consequences of violence. This has been complemented by the training conducted for COMBAT members on the key concepts of the project such as unpaid care work, CRSA and leadership for women. AAG, with the support of the existing community structures, will train the group’s representatives on reporting mechanisms through the activities of COMBAT in the first half of 2017. In Pakistan, activities are planned for 2017

1.2.b: 85% of women trained have improved knowledge of rights by the end of the training round

In Rwanda, of the 400 women trained, an average of 90% had improved knowledge/ understanding of their rights, including the rights to live free from violence and discrimination, to be educated, to own property, to participate in political leadership and to earn a fair and equal wage. In addition, the training looked at legalizing couples marriages, VAW/GBV law, Family law, land law, matrimonial, liberalities and succession regimes, participation in leadership and decision making, rights to education, right to meet in association and unpaid care work recognition. The training covered types of

Progress: 72%

Target: 85%

Baseline: 0

violence include physical violence, emotional violence, and economical violence. As a result, after this training, facilitators mobilized their fellow women in groups especially women in a de facto union to legalize their couples to become legally co-owners of family property and during international rural women’s day celebration, 46 couples legalized their marriage. ‘’It was great achievements for us to see the couples legalized their marriages we hope to achieve a lot from this step’’ said Kantetere Annick, facilitator of Turwanye Ubukene (fight poverty) women’s group. In Bangladesh, progress will be measured in 2017 In Ghana, 70% of the women sensitised have gained and improved knowledge about their rights, through the community sensitization meetings and trainings conducted at the group level by December, 2016. In Pakistan, progress is will be measured in 2017

1.2.c: 85% of women trained have correct knowledge of how to report incidences of VAW and available support services (legal, health etc.) by the end of each training round Progress: 100%

Target: 85%

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, 100% of the 200 women trained have shown correct knowledge of how to report incidences of VAW and available services (legal, health etc.) by the end of each training round. The tool of documenting and tracking VAW cases was developed and was given to 200 women. Women tracked cases on four categories of violence including physical, economic, psychological and sexual. In Nyanza District, trained women (108) tracked 293 GBV cases (272 cases for women and 21 for men). Many of them have been solved at village and cell levels; only 17 cases have been reported and handled by the Police GBV department. In Gisagara, women recorded 180 VAW cases including 4 sexual, 47 physical, 52 economic and 77 psychological). In Karongi District, 72 trained women have tracked 150 VAW cases, 127 treated at community level and 23 cases were forwarded to the police GBV unit. In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan progress will be measured in 2017

Activities which contribute to Output 1.2:

1.2.1 Training of Trainers workshop for 530 representatives from the women's groups on women's rights, including UCW, violence (reporting mechanism and support) and economic participation (representatives supported by REFLECT facilitators/community mobilisers to disseminate learning) (200 representatives trained in 10 workshops in Ghana; 200 representatives trained in 5 workshops in Rwanda; 40 representatives trained in 4 workshops in Bangladesh; 90 representatives trained in 4 workshops in Pakistan )

In Rwanda, the project has organized five workshops for 200 women (Nyanza 54, Gisagara 54, Nyaruguru 20, Karongi 36 and Musanze 36) at each district level for 3 days. Women trained as trainers have gained knowledge on reporting incidences of VAW, they are able to track and to monitor GBV cases, they can even handle some simple cases with the local leaders and they advise the victims of GBV where to report. The training covered topics including Unpaid Care Work, links between Unpaid Care Work and gender based violence (GBV) and violence against women (VAW), how to monitor and report VAW incidences, economic participation and how to disseminate learning in the community. In Bangladesh, 40 community mobilisers were trained and this was reported in the 2

nd quarter of 2016.

In Ghana and Pakistan this activity is in the 2017 plans.

1.2.2 A minimum of one monthly REFLECT meeting to sensitise 21,000 women (6,000 Ghana, 6,000 Rwanda, 5,000 Bangladesh, 4,000 Pakistan) about their rights (using existing Reflection-Action tools such as women rights analysis, power analysis, daily activity chart of women, income and expenditure matrix)

A minimum of one monthly reflection meeting has been held among the 19,206 women mobilised in Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In Rwanda, at least one monthly group meeting was held per group to discuss their rights using Reflection-Action tools such as women’s rights analysis, power analysis, daily activity charts, income and expenditure matrix. Frequently discussed topics include voluntary saving and lending (VSL), pressing issues in the community like access to medical insurance, family planning, hygiene and sanitation, VAW/GBV issues within their families, farming activities (crops and livestock) and challenges such as climate change and access to agro-inputs and markets, other off-farm activities like handcrafting and small trading, among others. Among the decisions they made were coping with climate change using small scale irrigation, postharvest handling and storing, setting annual targets such as 100% of members to have medical insurance and ensuring all members have mattresses. 200 women groups were also supported with stationary to facilitate them in recording meeting minutes and information/data related to their money saving and lending initiatives. Sometimes village and cells leaders visit group meeting for public information sharing and provide advises to groups’ plans and women get an opportunity to present their different demands or concerns for government attention and response. Issues raised include mistakes in socio-economic categorization, access to medical quality services, access to basic infrastructure, reducing unpaid care work such as household clean water, energy sources especially for cooking and lighting and childcare centres, among others. In Bangladesh, women’s groups have attended 1,625 weekly Reflection-Action (RA) meetings, 844 in Gaibandha and 781 in Lalmonirhat district during this quarter. In Ghana, a total of 62 community sensitization meetings have been held on monthly basis in the last quarter of 2016. The main objective was to inform women and other community members about their rights using Reflection Action methodologies during their group meetings and community information sharing meetings. Thirty one community sensitisation meetings have been facilitated by Songtaba between July and December 2016 to sensitize women groups about their rights and the various reporting mechanisms using Reflection-Action tools such as body map, power analysis, daily activity calendar for women and men, cobweb rights analysis and access and control matrix. The rights issues discussed were: women’s rights and control over their body, women’s access and control over productive resources in the communities and women in decision making. Specific rights issues that were discussed are women’s access and control over resources such as land, right to health, leadership and access to tractor services. As part of the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence, a radio programme was organised to reach out to a wider coverage of listeners. The programme was centred on various types of violence, the work of COMBAT in eliminating violence, its effects on women and girls and how it retrogress the development of households including relationship building and the effects on women and girls. 6,400 women were made aware of their rights and 1,500 men were also sensitized on women’s rights. In Pakistan, Reflect meetings to sensitize women about rights using reflection action tools planned in quarter four of 2016 - is now moved to 2017 to allow the facilitators to attend the Training of Trainers’ sessions which are planned in 1

st quarter of 2017. The identified facilitators had their first

meetings with all 45 women’s groups in the Mansehra district during this reporting period. These meetings were organized to orientate both the facilitators and the women’s groups about project objectives and to facilitate the process of beneficiary identification for project interventions. Through these meetings Reflect Facilitators also explained their role to Women’s Groups and Terms of Reference of the facilitator have been shared with their Women’s Groups

1.2.3. Train 450 community members (400 women group facilitators in Rwanda, 40 group facilitators and 10 partner staff in Bangladesh) to monitor and track incidences of violence against women at community level. (ongoing support will be provided to collect cases)

In Rwanda, 400 women have been trained and given a template for Violence Against Women monitoring and reporting. Women monitored cases of four categories of violence: physical, economic, psychological and sexual. In Nyanza District, trained women (108) tracked 293 GBV cases (272 cases for women and 21 for men) Many of them have been solved at village and cell levels; only 17 cases have been reported and handed by Police GBV department. In Gisagara, women recorded 180 VAW cases include 4 sexual, 47 physical, 52 economic and 77 psychological). In Karongi District, 72 trained women have tracked 150 VAW cases, 127 treated at community level and 23 cases were forwarded to police GBV unit. In Karongi district, there has been sensitization by the trained facilitators about gender based violence by identification and referral of victims through home visits and reporting about the perpetrators. As a result, 96 couples have legalised their marriages enabling them to claim equal rights to property. In Bangladesh, to ensure that the partner staff and community mobilizers understand mechanisms, strategies of reporting, fact finding process, documentation, service providing institutions and other related information, they received training to monitor and track incidences of violence against women at community level. The training was held between 19 and 20 of December 2016 in Gaibandha. The meeting was facilitated by Staff from ActionAid Bangladesh, Mrs. Jannatul Ferdous from Department of Women Affairs, Gaibadha district, Mr. Mahfuz Faruk, Coordinator of Radio Sarabela -community radio based in Gaibandha Beside the partner staff two Women leaders from the Upazila Federations of Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat attended this training as participants. Total 50 participants including 40 Community Mobilisers, 8 partner staff and 2 community women leaders (male-10 and female-40) participated in the training. This training enhanced participants’ capacity to deliver this understanding and learning to the members of women groups. The main training topics included human rights, violence against women, pre-violence strategy, post violence strategy, service providing institutions, follow-ups, role of mass media, fact finding, networking, advocacy, and campaigning. At the end of the training participants understood concepts around violence against women, legal procedures, case handling process, fact finding and collecting evidence, reporting, services of the existing institutions and role of mass media in combating violence against women incidences. Shantonaa Rani, President of Rajpur Union Federation, Lalmonirhat said, “From this training we learn a lot which will help us to fight violence against women incidences including proper documentation of the case”. Jannatul Ferdous, Upazila Women Affairs Officer from Gaibandha has also said, ‘Early marriage is the main cause of VAW in our society; role of the family members can save our child from VAW by protesting early marriage’

1.2.6 Organise bi-annual women's rights awareness forums in each community with 300 women and other community members In Ghana only

In Ghana, women rights awareness forums have been conducted in 2016, deepening the understanding of women rights and their privileges. 7,000 community members attended the bi- annual community rights forums from different communities. These included 5,500 women and 1,500 men in 55 communities. The sensitization will continue using the groups in each community with the help of the facilitators and project partners. To the left is a picture of a facilitator in Nkrankrom community leading her group members to discuss issues of rights using the Cobweb for rights tool in Brong Ahafo Region. The second picture (right) is a cross of section of women at Akore community discussion on rights with project officer at SODIA. The sensitization was

mainly done at the community level with community leadership comprising Assembly Representatives of each community, Unit committee members, Community chiefs, Teachers and farmer network members the key stakeholders with other community members.

1.2.7 Train 400 COMBAT representatives trained for 3 days in 10 workshops of 40 participants by the end of 2017 on key concepts of unpaid care work, reflect meetings processes and CRSA concepts to

In Ghana, five workshops/ trainings out of the ten planned workshops have been held for COMBAT representatives in the five regional programme areas namely Upper West, Northern Region, Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Volta Region covering the 8 selected districts. 250 participants comprising 150 females and 100 males have been trained in five workshops of three days each over fifteen days. The training had three main objectives: to provide knowledge and information to participants about the project, to sensitize training topics with the participants induce attitudinal change to ultimately influence the attitudes and perceptions of their community members, and to improve their skills and understanding on unpaid care work,

ensure coherent interaction with rural women in each district In Ghana only

CRSA, violence, leadership and women access to resources. As a result of the training COMBAT members will link up with members of the women groups to share the training information and concepts. Share information about the processes for reporting violence against women, participate in some meetings with the women and facilitate a meeting between all COMBAT members and their entire group members at the community level COMBAT will also be linking with other stakeholders such as DOVVSU, various partners and other women rights organizations to fight violence against women and girls.

1.2.10 400 women (Trainers of Trainers) trained on matrimonial regimes, inheritance and liberalities Law of Rwanda (Rwanda Only)

In Rwanda, the project organized training for 400 women representing 200 women groups (Musanze 72, Nyaruguru 40, Karongi 70, Nyanza 2 sites each with 54 and Gisagara 2 sites each with 54). This was a training of trainers for 5 days on National property Law that provide full rights and dignity of women to family property. Training was facilitated by legal experts with live support of sectors’ in charge of civil status and notary. The training covered the national law on matrimonial regimes, inheritance and liberalities. This training improved understanding of women on property related laws and policies. The training has also changed cultural mind-sets of women on family property ownership, access, utilization/ management and their rights on resources. Issues emerged during the training as women started raising real problems in their family or in their villages, wanting legal assistance and not wanting the session to end. This shows the need for this kind of information and support in the community and it was recommended that project staff further assist women to meet with local authorities for legal support on property violence.

1.2.11 Produce 5400 simplified versions of women's rights related laws in local language and distribute to 200 women's groups (400 in Rwanda and 5000 in Pakistan to distribute to women's groups and communities)

In Rwanda, a consultant has been contracted to document, summarize and produce 410 booklets of simplified versions of laws and policies protecting and promoting women’s rights in Rwanda. Global treaties/conversions/declarations on women’s rights are also reflected in the booklet. Consultant produced 405 booklets in local language and 5 booklets in English. Women were trained on the content of the booklet and how to use it to secure and promote their rights at all levels. The national parliament appreciated this booklet that will help women understand the laws and policies protecting and promoting their rights including education, property, and political participation, among others. In Pakistan, this activity is in the plans of subsequent years of the project implementation period.

1.2.12 306 women's groups (16 in Ghana - 2 per district, 200 in Bangladesh and 90 in Pakistan) are supported to participate in 8 community mobilisation events per year (e.g. Women's rights day, Food Rights Day etc.)

A total of 347 women were supported to participate in community mobilisation events (Bangladesh 50 women, 250 from Ghana, 47 in Pakistan). In Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh and other likeminded organizations organized the 2

nd national women farmer’s convention on World Food Day

at CIRDAP (Centre for International Rural Development for the Asia and Pacific) auditorium, Dhaka on 18 October 2016. Fifty four POWER project participants (25 women members from Lalmonirhat, 25 women members from Gaibandha and 4 project staff) participated in the event. This convention demanded rights for women farmers and drew the attention of government and policy makers to women’s concerns. Policy makers agreed to work on issues of recognition of women farmers and increase women access to market. Women compiled the main discussion of the convention and shared with them. The policy makers said that they will work with relevant ministries to create opportunities for women farmers. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Abdul Wadud Dara said, “Women friendly market system has to be developed so that female farmers receive fair prices of their produce. Women are lagging behind to males in many fields as they are economically vulnerable.” The POWER project commemorated this year’s 16 Day of Activism from 25 November to 10 December 2016, Begum Rokeya Day on 9 December and Human Rights Day on 10 December 2016 with different programmes and events with different stakeholders. Union Federation on behalf of women group of the respective union organised the events in their locality jointly with respective Union Parishad- local government. Union Parishad Chairman, Members attended in the rallies and they also delivered their speech expressing their solidarity to stop violence against women. Informative discussions and debates involving prize giving ceremonies have taken place at schools. Women grousp, Upazilla and Union Federation representatives, local government representatives, government officials, community leaders, school managing committee leaders, teachers, students, youth groups, NGO representatives, media representatives and communities have participated in the different events. Organizing the event made the women federation members to interact with the communities and confident in presenting their argument. To celebrate the event POWER project team communicated with various level of stakeholder like Upazila Parishad, Union Parishad, Government service provider, school

teacher and school management committee, students, media personnel etc. Through this communication a networking relation has been made with the stakeholders. In Ghana, the women groups celebrated the International Rural Women’s Day on the 15th of October and on the 21st of October to mark the day in solidarity with all rural women across the world. The women took advantage of the day in Upper West to demand access for land, asking the local authorities to ensure women are given fertile land that are closer to their homes. It was made clear by the women leaders that CRSA needs time to recoup the benefits made on the land for farming activities, they said we are not just asking for land for one day but a significant period that would allow us time to reap the benefits of investing in that piece of that land. Songtaba, a partner in Northern Region, also supported 240 women, men, boys and girls to celebrate the 16 days of activism at Kanjo community. Women’s groups from other communities such as Nakpayili, Nasamba, and Montanya were also part of the celebration. Other attendants of the event were Kanjo Traditional leaders and some key district level stake holders led by the District Assembly, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). WOM in the Upper East Region also celebrated for their first ever 16 days of activism which was successful with district Assembles and traditional leaders. This enabled women to present their communique to the district Assemblies and the traditional leaders committing them to support in rural women productivity and help provide resources to reduce unpaid care work. The women in the Talinse and Nabdam Districts also celebrated the International Rural Women Day in the 21st of October, 2016. This was done as part of the activities for observing the international moments in Ghana. In Pakistan, Saibaan partner has organized an event to participate in 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence campaign and supported women groups to participate in this event to highlight the importance of these days and disseminate information to the local communities Eighteen group facilitators, twenty-nine women group members and two elected representatives participated in the event. Major discussion was made around highlighting the importance of the campaign, current VAW situation and role of government in eliminating the root causes of VAW at local level. Participants were given orientation on different types of violence against women; different treaties signed by government of Pakistan, for example The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); legislation made by national and provincial governments for combating Violence against women; and link of unpaid care work with violence against women. Through this activity not only the issue of violence against women was highlighted but also women were sensitized regarding national and international laws and systems to protect women and eliminate violence from the society. Furthermore, three women from the women groups participated in an event on Celebrating 16 days of Activism campaign organized by another project at ActionAid Pakistan country Office level for sharing the experiences and practices to eliminate gender based violence.

1.2.19 1 sensitisation session held per year with government officials in each district on violence against women and their role to combat it (10 sessions in total). Pakistan only

In Pakistan, a sensitization session was held in this quarter with government officials on violence against women and their role to combat it in district Mansehra to align with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. It was meant to sensitize the government officials and local communities about the importance of the campaign and to create awareness of women rights and the negative consequences of gender-based violence. Twelve district level representatives including two women and ten men from district officer Social Welfare and women Empowerment department, Deputy Director Agriculture Department agriculture and livestock, district officers Education and health departments participated the session. During this session issues discussed included violence against women, its Types; Socio-customary practices in Pakistan; Effects of domestic violence; Impediments in access to Justice, legal System, its effectiveness and loopholes in the legal system; role of law enforcement system and loopholes in the system; government’s positive steps to combat gender based violence; role of civil society, media, institutions against violence against women at district levels and service providers details to combat violence against women. Community participants demanded that government officials to increase their role in combating violence against women. Government officials shared the roles of their respective departments in supporting or providing services to the communities. They also shared that the departments were responsible to access communities for required services provision. Social welfare and women’s empowerment office facilitate the project areas’ affected women in availing available facilities of medical Aid, legal Aid, Skill development, production and marketing, transitional care, social and psycho-social care, shelter and protection at Aaghosh and Dar-ul-Amaan (local names of women shelter houses) available at newly constructed

Mansehra Social welfare complex. District Agriculture department encouraged women to become part of farm service centre and to join department’s field level force for providing extension services.

OUTPUT 1.3 690 women's groups (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh, 90 Pakistan) trained in women's leadership and local decision-making community structures are sensitised to women's participation by 2020

1.3.a: 21,000 women trained on women's leadership in each country by the end of 2018 Progress: 2,557

Target: 21,000

Baseline: 0

In Bangladesh, 2,557 women from 200 women reflection action circles received two days long training on Women Leadership Development. Total of 100 training batches were completed in 8 working unions of the Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat district during this quarter. 1,257 participants have attended 50 training batches in Gaibandha and 1300 participants have attended 50 training batches in Lalmonirhat. This training was held at village level that includes Kanchipara, Udakhali, Uria, Gazaria, Fazlupur of Gaibandha district, and for Lalmonirhat the venues were Mogholhat, Kulaghat and Haraty union. The main issues discussed in this training included: Power, sources of power and power structure; leader, leadership and types of leadership; women leadership, leadership nature & criteria and importance of women leadership; an ideal leader, qualities of an ideal leader and roles-responsibilities of leaders; leadership development process, leadership distribution and activities relating to leadership; challenges of women leadership and overcome strategies; group development and goals, objectives, rules-regulation of conduct group meeting, group development and leadership; ways forwards to become a good speaker or leaders and importance of participatory decision making; communication, communication cycle, networking, networking types, importance, networking areas; and advocacy, conflict, conflict management, resources mobilization, roles of leaders in resource mobilization and the importance of planning. The progress of this indicator will be measured in future years in Pakistan, Ghana and Rwanda.

1.3.b: 60% of women leaders trained who report having greater skills and self-confidence to participate in community structures by the end of 2018

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

1.3.c: 25% of women regularly participating in community structures by the end of the project Progress: 40%

Target: 60%

Baseline: 0

In Bangladesh, project has monitored a selected sample five community structures in the project area and they are Nari & Shisu Nirjatan Protirodth Committee, Parents teachers association (PTA), Village Development Committee (VDC), Market Management Committee, legal Aid Committee. The total membership of the five community structures is 174, where the number of women is 69 and the number of men is 105. 40% of the members of the targeted/selected community structures are women. The progress of this indicator will be measured in future years in Pakistan, Ghana and Bangladesh.

Activities which contribute to Output 1.3:

1.3.1 Hold training of trainers 3 day workshop to train 1616 community facilitators, partner management staff and women’s groups’ representatives on women’s leadership. (410 through 5 workshops of 82 people per region in Ghana; 400 in Rwanda, 450 (400 women + 46 partner staff) in Bangladesh; 360 (4 from each group) women in Pakistan through 12 workshops)

In Bangladesh 47 staff and 400 women have been trained on leadership as reported in the 3rd

quarter of 2016. In Ghana, Pakistan and Rwanda activities are planned for 2017.

1.3.2 Roll out women's leadership training to 690 women's groups through 1 workshop (delivered by ToT) for each group (2016-2018)

In Bangladesh, during the 3rd

quarter Partner Staff and Community Mobilizers (CM) attended two days Training of Trainers on Women Leadership. After attending the Training of Trainers session, partner staff arranged the training on women’s leadership for group members in both districts. Two selected representatives from each of 200 reflection action circles received the training facilitated by the Community Mobilizers. This was a two days long training and 400 women members participated in it. In 4

th quarter, participants who received women leadership training from POWER project

have been selected as facilitator to roll out the women leadership training for all the group members and transfer the learning. Total of 2,557 participants (1,257 from Gaibandha and 1,300 from Lalmonirhat team) attended the training in this quarter. Total of 100 training batches (50 in Gaibandha and 50 in Lalmonirhat) have been organized during the month between November and December 2016. The remaining groups will receive the training in next year according to the action plan. In Ghana, Pakistan and Rwanda activities are planned for future years.

1.3.4 Hold training of trainers workshops to train community facilitators, partner management staff and women’s groups’ representatives on effective participation ( gaining consensus in meetings, negotiation skills, communication skills) (420 trained through 5 regional workshops of 84 people in Ghana; 400 trained in Rwanda, 240- 40 community mobilisers and 200 women's groups representatives trained in Bangladesh)

In Rwanda and Bangladesh activities are planned for 2017. In Ghana, a trainer of trainer’s workshop was carried out for project staff and partner staff on effective participation and communication skills in December, 2016. The training provided tools and information on micro facilitation skills, negotiation and consensus building strategies. Roles plays and group exercises were given to participants to encourage and instil team spirit and how information can be transferred from one end to the other without distortion. Fourteen participants attended the training for three days involving project officers, partner field officers, media personal and the Project Coordinator. Five regional level workshops will be held to train women group’s representatives in February 2017. 4000 rural women will benefit from these trainings at the community level.

Outcome 2: By the end of 2020 Women's unpaid care work (UCW) is more highly valued within households, communities and government, more evenly distributed within households and hours spent by women on UCW is reduced, resulting in more free time for women to engage in social, economic and political activities.

70% of duty-bearers, men and women sampled from target communities reporting positive attitudes towards addressing unpaid care work by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years. In Rwanda, As a result of advocacy and community sensitization, it is estimated that at least 70% of duty-bearers, men and women in project implementation communities show positive attitudes towards addressing UCW. This will be verified by med-term review and end of project evaluation. What shows attitudes are changing is that men have started releasing wives to freely participate in women group activities and public community meetings and events and also local authorities such as executive secretaries of cell and sectors testify that before FLOW Programme 1&2 women were very rare participate in community public actions and leadership structures. In Niagara district, men support women to track/monitor and report VAW cases. In Ghana, communities in which the POWER project is being implemented have indicated positive attitudes towards supporting to address unpaid care work. This was determining through initial meetings held with them. An assessment will be done in 2017 to provide accurate numbers of the target groups and the specific positive attitudes that have been demonstrated.

30% of sampled target households where women report a positive redistribution of time spent on UCW by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years. In Rwanda, 6,000 target households from which husbands are involved in time diary filling. It is estimated that at least 30% of these households there is fair redistribution of UCW between household members. This will be verified by mid-term review and end of project evaluation for the all countries.

Reductions of at least 15% in the amount of time women spend on unpaid care work between 2016 and 2019.

This indicator will be measured in future years

30% of sampled women who report having more time to spend on social, economic or political activities by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years. In Rwanda, women being benefited cooking biogas, rainwater harvesting and childcare centres will gain more time for socio-economic and political activities. However, reliable data will be generated through biannual time diary data analysis, mid-term review and end of project evaluation.

OUTPUT 2.1 690 women's groups (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200 Bangladesh, 90 Pakistan) are represented in local level government meetings on budgetary allocation and in kind support to address unpaid care work by 2020

606 groups trained on participatory budget monitoring and tracking by the end of year 2017 Progress: 230

Target: 606

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, 200 women representatives have been trained on participatory budget monitoring and tracking using community scorecard and social audit for 2 days at each district levels. All 5 districts were poorly scored (below average) by the community with regard to access to childcare centres, access to clean water, access to cooking energy and access to CRSA inputs(report is attached). Training focused on understanding of Rwanda National Budget process and phases, Performance-Based Planning approaches used by the government of Rwanda and the role of citizens to participate in budget planning, implementation, monitoring/tracking and evaluation. The training has improved women knowledge on the use of community scorecard and social audit that will be useful to women in tracking sector and districts budget planning and expenditure analysis focusing on annual budgetary allocation to interventions reducing unpaid care work in rural communities. In Pakistan, Saibaan partner has organized participatory gender sensitive budget preparation and tracking session on 22nd December 2016 at Mansehra district. Forty three community members including thirty women group facilitators and women group members, nine elected representatives (two women councillors, seven men general and farmer councillors), and four men community members from men groups have attended the session. Participatory budget tracking was the sensitization session of women group members and elected representatives who the budget holders of development funded allocated by KPK government. Due to scattered geographical locations women from all 45 groups were not able to participate at one location. This session familiarized the participants with participatory budgeting, government budget cycle periods, the proper time right holders can engage to influence budgetary allocation processes, how to prioritize women issues and how to prioritize community needs. In Bangladesh and Ghana, the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

100 sensitisation / advocacy meetings where women present UCW data to duty-bearers and the need for budgetary / in-kind support by the end of the project Progress: 11

Target: 100

Baseline: 0

A total of 82 (71 in Bangladesh and 11 in Rwanda) sensitisation/advocacy meetings where women present UCW data to duty bearers and the need for budgetary support have been held. A total of 14,284 participants attended the meetings. In Rwanda, project has so far organized 11 sensitization meetings where women could present demands on UCW to local government duty bearers and requested the budget increment on UCW interventions. Participants were around 1,000 per sensitization meeting composed of at least 600 women, 350 men and 50 different local authorities. Total participants in all 5 districts were around 11,000. Men still stick on cultural beliefs that women should be primarily responsible for domestic activities and rural men see unpaid care work fair redistribution as something abnormal to cultural norms and men resistance is still seen in rural communities. The demands made included access to household level basic infrastructures like energy, water and community-based childcare centres at least 2 per care centres per village. They also requested that the government increases support towards climate change adaptation and access to food processing and storage and increased access markets to that they are able to increase income. Women presented that they spend their daily time on firewood, water collection, child care and other domestic and not have enough time to participate socio-economic, education and political opportunities that lead women to be in extreme poverty and voiceless at levels. Local authorities who participated included woman member of parliament and vice mayor and leaders from sector up to village level in Niagara and in

other districts, participants were Vice mayors in charge of social affairs, executive secretaries of sectors and cells and coordinators of villages, representatives of national women council from village up to district level, representatives of other like-minded civil society organization and other representatives of government special organs include Police and army. The impact of these sensitizations was that representative or parliament pledged to take forward the women demands to national parliament agenda especially the demand on childcare centre and districts committed to own sensitization towards UCW 3’Rs and to at least set up once a childcare centre at cell level to mean 2,148 care centres as per Minister of gender and family promotion commitment. In Bangladesh, 71 sensitization and advocacy meetings on Unpaid Care Work issues held with duty bearers and other community members, who included religious leaders, school boys and girls, School Management Committee (SMC) and Upazila service provider. The purpose of the meeting with Upazila service providers was to initiate negotiation and budget allocation that helps fund initiatives that reduce Women’s Unpaid Care Work. In order to sensitize traditional leaders, religious leaders, men, boys, and communities on Unpaid Care Work (UCW) to become change agents they attended SKS partner organized sensitization meeting. Total of 3,284 participants attended in 71 meetings held in both districts. 1,737 men and 1,547 women and 34 duty bearers from both districts were present in these meeting. The participants included government official, Union Praised representative, Civil society representative, religious leaders, school teachers, school management committee members and journalist. A total of 10 Union Parishad of both districts committed to prepare gender sensitive Union Parishad (UP) annual budget and to make provision for safety nets and other support for POWER Project women groups , Representative of Market Management Committee and Chambers of commerce at local level assured that they will ensure market facilities for women and explore women products sale, The Upazila (sub-district) Education Officer committed to visit day care centre very soon and will provide required support if possible, Upazila Women Affairs Officer and Officer in Charge of Police Station also committed to provide assistance in case of any VAW related incidents. In Ghana and Pakistan, the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

40 documented cases whereby local level government take positive action providing support (budgetary or in-kind) to address women's UCW by the end of the project Progress: 1

Target: 40

Baseline: 0

Through ActionAid Rwanda, influence through POWER Project, during celebration of last International Rural Women Day, the minister of gender and family promotion(MIGEPROF) recommended all districts to set up child care centres at least one at cell level. This commitment shows that local government institutions will allocate some budget to set up child care centres which will reduce time women spend on childcare. This will be monitored concurrently advocating for government budgetary allocation to clean cooking energy and household tap water to reduce women’s burden of UCW. In addition, UCW redistribution at family level will also continue to change people’s mind-sets including primary schools. Schools are target to ensure sustainable change towards addressing unpaid care work and as well schools will support in continuous sensitization within schools and in families and communities during holidays In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

Activities which contribute to Output 2.1:

2.1.2 Organise sensitisation meetings annually with local government officials and rural women to discuss women's UCW and support for interventions and budgetary allocation to reduce UCW. (16 meetings with 40 rural women in Ghana, 50 meetings with 200 rural women in Rwanda, 20 meetings with 200 rural women in Bangladesh and 10 meetings with 200 rural women in Pakistan) (Baseline report utilised to provide

In Rwanda, 11 sensitizations gathered over 11,000 community members and local leaders in all districts. Participants included women’s group representatives, other community members where POWER Project is implemented composed of women, men, girls and boys and local leaders (participants were Vice-Mayors in charge of social affairs, executive secretaries of sectors and cells and coordinators of villages, representatives of national women council from village up to district level, other representatives of government special organs including Police and army) from village to district levels and representatives of other like-minded civil society organizations. The purpose of meeting was to build a national coalition of members advocating for the visibility of Unpaid Care Work (UCW) in Rwanda and to identify stakeholders that will help to bring about change and discuss advocacy strategies. Participants understood women’s Unpaid Care Work burden to the society; how it limits achievement of social justice and enjoyment of women’s rights. And also women demanded that the government should increase budget for UCW reduction activities. These sensitization meetings enabled community members and local leaders to understand UCW, leaders decided to propose solutions to reduce burden of UCW such planning for establishment of childcare centres, sensitizations on unpaid care work recognition and redistribution, fight VAW/GBV and prioritize women demands in their annual planning and budgeting plans more specifically on interventions reducing unpaid care work.

supporting evidence of the need)

In Bangladesh, SKS partner has organised sensitization meetings with local government officials, communities and women groups’ members. The objective of the meeting was to sensitize the local government officials and community participants the burden of Unpaid Care Work on women and how Union Parishad Budget will introduce gender sensitive planning and budgeting allocations. The goals, objectives and activities of the POWER project were also introduced to the participant for discussions. During this quarter, 5 sensitization meetings have been organized with Union Parishad-UP (Union Parisad is the third tier of local government of Bangladesh) and rural women in all five unions of Gaibandha (2 meetings held in October and 3 meetings held in November 2016). UP Chairman, UP Vice-Chairman, UP Secretary, UP Member, Women Member of the UP, School Teacher, Government of Bangladesh service providers at UP level, Social Worker, Media Representative and Women Group Members participated in this meeting. During the meeting after the introductory session, discussion was held on the issues of Unpaid Care Work and its effects and how to recognize, reduce and redistribute it, Union Parishad’s role and budgetary provision for reducing Unpaid Care Work, the way forward and action plan. Group work, presentation, open question and answer session was also held during the meeting. Chairmen of Union Parishads and other officials acknowledged the fact and committed to address the issue of UCW during budgetary allocation in the respective UPs. Total of 232 persons (113 female and 119 male) participated in these group meetings. “Women do more works than men in our family in a day. But we do not pay money for such work and even don’t recognize it. Now we promise to help women to reduce unpaid care work at least in our families’’, Chairman of Kanchipara UP said. The meetings resulted in relations being built up and developed with Union Parishad and its Members, POWER project has been introduced. The Chairman and Members of UP committed to address the UCW issue in next budget by creating opportunities for Income Generative Activities (IGA) for women to reduce the burden from women members of family. The participant will share and discuss UCW issue in family and society to build awareness and sensitization In Ghana, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period. In Pakistan, during the reporting quarter, one annual sensitization meeting with local government officials and rural women was conducted in Mansehra district to discuss women’s Unpaid Care Work and interventions that support an increased budgetary allocation to reduce Unpaid Care Work. The Officer of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment department at Mansehra district signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saibaan and actively facilitated some of the sessions. The main feature of this MOU was that Social Welfare Department would facilitate in developing linkages of partner and women groups with different departments and government officials at district level and to get their support in POWER Project implementation. Forty three community members including thirty women group facilitators and women group members, nine elected representatives (two women village councillors, and seven men, men general councillors, and farmer councillors and four men community members) have attended the session. Concepts around Unpaid Care Work, women’s economic contribution at household and national level, role of men to reduce/redistribute and shift the burden of Unpaid Care Work, the required support of elected representatives during the budgetary allocation were discussed using participatory approaches including Activity Charts, brain storming and group work methodologies. The discussions were also aimed to sensitize participants about women rights and issues that affect their lives in the community. The Officer of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment department facilitated session on role of elected representatives in budgetary allocation and how women empowerment department could support in budget preparation process. Being a focal representative from district’s relevant department he shared the available opportunities for women empowerment at district level. During the discussion references were made to facts shown by researches. For example it was shared with the participants that women work 62 hours in a week where men work only 48 hours; women have 107 hours for themselves where men have 120 for themselves in a week (ActionAid Women’s Care Work Programming Framework, page 4). In the discussion it has emerged that these figures are averages and some community women work more hours than the research indicated.

2.1.3 606 women's groups are trained and supported (200 Ghana, 200 Rwanda, 200

In Rwanda, three days training was organized in all five Districts where POWER project is being implemented for 200 women (Nyanza 54 women, Gisagara 54 women, Nyaruguru 20 women, Musanze 36 women and Karongi 36 women). The training covered the topics include budget preparation,

Bangladesh, 6 Pakistan) to undertake local (district/provincial dependent on country context) participatory budget monitoring and tracking through a two day workshop (inc. use of scorecard tool and community social audits)

budget analysis, budget implementation, budget tracking and monitoring using community scorecard and social audit and budget tracking results reporting. The training has improved women knowledge on the use of community scorecard and social audit that will be useful to women in tracking sector and districts budget planning and expenditure analysis focusing on annual budgetary allocation to interventions reducing unpaid care work in rural communities. In Gisagara District, 54 women representatives were supported to undertake district participatory budget monitoring and tracking through a two day workshop by using scorecard tools and community social audits. Resulting in strong advocacy at the end of September 2016 during community work known as ‘Umuganda’ in local language. This is an organized community discussion on country budget process where village members sat together to highlight community needs to be considered in annual plans (annual performance contracts annually Mayors sign with President of Republic). In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.1.4 40 (1 day) participatory gender sensitive budget preparation sessions are held with Orient Union Parishad (local government) in Bangladesh and 10 (1 day) sessions with local government in Pakistan Bangladesh and Pakistan only

In Pakistan, during this reporting quarter a participatory gender sensitive budget preparation session was organized at Mansehra district. Local government representatives including women village councillors, men general councillors, and farmer councillors and community members have attended the session. Forty three community members including thirty group facilitators and women group members, nine elected representatives and four men who are community members have participated this session. The District Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Officer facilitated this session. The issues discussed in the session included gender sensitive budget preparations, project cycle management, prioritizing reduction of unpaid care work through innovative means and community driven interventions to reduce Unpaid Care Work. During this session sample of a basic budget was developed by the participants that can be used to influence local government’s budgets to address women issues during budget allocations at district level. An action plan was developed through the active involvement of local authorities and local women to reduce Unpaid Care Work by allocating budgets for unions and village councils. This action plan prioritization of interventions for budget allocation, liaising with district departments to share prioritized interventions and to get their support in budget allocations, Planning budgets for enhancing capacities of rural women and for establishment of micro entrepreneurship and local marketing opportunities for women. In Bangladesh, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.1.5. Six monthly Meeting with Upazila service providers and Group members to negotiate different services related to UCW Bangladesh only

In Bangladesh, both Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat district POWER project team organized separately two meetings dated at 21 and 22 December 2016 respectively with Upazilla (the 2nd tire of the Local Government of Bangladesh) service providers. The objective of organizing the event was to introduce POWER project goal, objectives, outcomes, outputs, activities , to sensitize and orient about the UCW issue, explore and identify opportunities to reduce, recognize and re-distribution of UCW for creating opportunities in IGAs/business and seeking support from different service providers, Upazila Parishads, Market Management Committee for interventions and budgetary allocation for women.

Upazila Nirbahi (Sub-District level Administrator) was present as the chief guest in both events. Upazila Parishad Vice Chairman, UP Member, Women Member of the UP, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Department of Agriculture Extension-DAE, Secondary Education Affairs Officer, Union Parishad Chairmen, Union Parishad Members, SKS Foundation representative, media representative, community leaders, NGO representatives, Federation Leaders and women group members participated in these events. During the session, as different departmental representatives were present in the events, partner staff demanded gender sensitive budgeting that reduces, recognizes, and redistributes women’s Unpaid Care Work in the communities. The concept of forming the Partners Advisory Group (PAG) was also discussed and the initial PAG has been formed in both districts through this meeting ensuring the participation of Local Government Officials in this group. More than 104 participants (Gaibandha 60 and Lalmonirhat 40) participated in the event. The meeting resulted in improved

understanding about POWER Project and ActionAid Bangladesh activities and its focus areas, the burden of women’s Unpaid Care Work and made commitments to explore and support opportunities that redistribute the burden of UCW. The UNO expressed his satisfaction to know POWER project activities and its focus on UCW, child day care centre initiative, Income Generating Activities and economic empowerment for women.

2.1.6 An annual summary of women's budget tracking results is produced and shared with local government and stakeholders

In Rwanda, the project contracted a consultant to support women producing report on their budget tracking results and the report was validated with directors of planning and budget officers from all districts in which POWER is implemented. They acknowledged the low budget allocation to Early Childhood Development interventions where they pledged to prioritize women demands in the next districts plans as even was recommended by the President of Republic of Rwanda in his Speech during the presentation of achievements of districts’ annual plans performance for 2015/2016. Also shortfall in districts annual budget allocation was found in household access to clean water, access to clean energy sources especially cooking and lighting, access to markets and CRSA inputs In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

OUTPUT 2.2. 21,000 women and 6,000 (3,000 Ghana, 1,000 Rwanda, 1,000 Bangladesh, 1,000 Pakistan) men and boys have improved awareness of the time women spend on UCW by 2020

21,000 women and 6,000 men who have completed a time diary at least once as part of sensitisation activities by the end of the project Progress: 13,000 women and 2,000 men

Target: 21,000 women and 6,000 men

Baseline: 0

All time diary participants first received orientation about the objectives, purpose and process of collecting evidence using time diaries. In Rwanda, in all five districts, 6,000 women and 1,000 men have completed time diaries and data from 900 women and 150 men were analysed. The analysis shows that a woman from very remote areas spend around 7hours on UCW while a woman from the suburbs spends only around 3hours. The analysis also shows the poor UCW redistribution between a woman and man where a woman uses at least 7hours on UCW while a man spends around 1h30 minutes only a day. In Bangladesh, total of 700 project participants including 600 women and 100 men have completed and maintained time diaries as part of sensitization activities (2 times during this quarter). In Ghana, 6,400 women and 900 men have been train on time use and its implication on women’s economic empowerment. The first time dairy data collections have taken place in all the sample communities. In Pakistan, the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

100 dialogue meetings where evidence from time diaries is shared and comparisons between men and women's discussed by the end of the project Progress: 11 in Rwanda

Target: 100

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, the project has so organized 11 dialogue meetings. The dialogue took place at each sector level. The meeting was attended by approximately 500 participants per meeting. The dialogue focused on what is UCW, how to achieve recognition, redistribution and reduction from household to national level. In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

150 local awareness raising initiatives carried out relating to women's UCW by the end of the project Progress: 85 local awareness initiatives

Target: 150

Baseline: 0

A total of 285 (55 in Rwanda, 200 in Bangladesh, 30 in Ghana) awareness raising initiatives have been carried out relating to unpaid care work. In Rwanda, so far 55 awareness sensitization meetings were organized at 55 schools. Students and teachers participants were around 1,000 composed of girls and boys. 11 community meetings on UCW were also organized at each sector level. Participants were approximately 500 per each sensitization meeting and included women, men, boys and girls and local authorities. Gender disaggregated data will be collected for next sensitization meetings. In Bangladesh, as part of the awareness raising initiative on Unpaid Care Work, 200 spouse and family members sensitization meetings were conducted in Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts in this quarter. 4651 men and 5261 women participated in the local awareness raising initiatives. The main issues discussed included Women’s Unpaid Care Work and ways to reduce, recognize and redistribute Unpaid Care Work at household level. The spouses and family members realized the burden of women’s unpaid care work and committed to help women in doing the household chores.

In Ghana, 30 local awareness raising campaigns have been done as part of the community sensitization process in project communities. These involved women’s group members, COMBAT members, traditional leaders and community members including boys and girls at the community level. These events were held as part of the IWD, 16 days of activism on violence against women, radio events and community role plays. In Pakistan, the activities are in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

Activities which contribute to Output 2.2:

2.2.1 Consultant is contracted to develop standardised time diary tool to be used in Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan which is published and distributed for use to women and men in target communities. Please note this is for sensitisation purposes and not all time diary data will be captured and analysed.

AA has contracted an international consultant ISG who will be responsible for standardising the time diary tool. The consultant is also responsible for the baseline. In the meantime the MEL coordinator has led the support for countries in standardising the tool. In Rwanda, the time diary tool was developed with the support from POWER Project MEL coordinator and an IT company was hired to design the format, 7,000 copies were redesigned and printed and distributed to 6,000 women and 1,000 men. Completed copies were collected and are well kept in office. In Bangladesh, the Format of the time diary has been standardised receiving all the suggestions from the four countries implementing the POWER project. This task was coordinated by POWER Project MEL Coordinator. The final Time Diary Card was translated into Bengali and published at the end of October 2016. POWER Project Bangladesh printed 700 copies in October 2016 for collecting time use data in 2016 only. In Ghana, a general time diary tool was shared by AAUK to countries in 2016. Ghana revised the card and printed it for pilot in trainings, sensitization on time use and for data collection on time diaries. The redesign of the card was led by the Project Coordinator and the Communications and Public Relations Manager in consultation with other senior staff and project officers including the sample women groups. The card so far has been used for first data collection and will be revised finally based on the outcome of the discussions at the field. In Pakistan, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.2.2 690 women groups meet and fill out time diaries to track changes in their time use. (Samples will be confirmed by research organisation, indication of Ghana - 900 women and 300 men; Rwanda 400 women and 200 men, Bangladesh 350 women and 150 men; Pakistan 400 women and 200 men)

In Rwanda, all women members of 200 women groups in 5 districts completed time diaries. 900 time diaries from women and 150 time diaries from men were analysed. Part of findings are as follows: a rural woman spends her most of daily time on Unpaid Care Work (average 7 hours 18 minutes) compared to men (average of 1 hour and 36 minutes). Paid work takes 1 hour and 30 minutes daily for women while men use 3 hours and 1 minute daily, therefore women are behind men in the economy. Women in very remote areas, for instance in Ruheru sector in Nyaruguru, spend 7h and 12 minutes on UCW while in suburbs like Busasamana in Nyanza District they spend 3hours and 37 minutes daily due to better access to basic infrastructures. Due to cultural attitudes, women are fully responsible and occupied by both UCW and productive work while men are fully engaged in paid work. These cultural practices keep women behind men in economy and human rights enjoyment. Women do not also have time to participate in socio-economic and political opportunities In Bangladesh, between November and December 2016, two set of data have been collected from the selected 600 participants (300 from Gaibandha and 300 Lalmonirhat) using the Time Diary, including household rosters. These 600 participants (500 Female and 100 Male) received the training on October 2016. Community Mobilizers supported them to complete the cards and collected data has been entered into software for preservation and analysis with the support from SKS Foundation. Later on the database has been provided to the Research Initiative, Bangladesh (RIB) partner to carry out research on UCW for analysis In Rwanda, 6400 women took part in the sensitization on time diaries with 900 men across the all the communities. Community facilitators were trained at the first level and with the support of the facilitators; the groups including men and boys were sensitized. Data from sample communities will be shared by partners by the end of January. The report on the time diaries will be compiled and shared by end of February, 2017. In Pakistan, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.2.3 Train 1,650 men (300 in Ghana, 1,000 in Rwanda, 150 in Bangladesh, 200 in Pakistan) men to fill out time diaries and compare them with women’s time diaries as part of the community sensitisation process at quarterly community based workshops in each country.

In Rwanda, 1,000 men selected from 5 districts (Nyaruguru 100, Musanze 180, Karongi 180, Gisagara 270 and Nyanza 270) completed time diaries and 150 time diaries were analysed. Part of findings showed that men spend an average of around 1hour and 36minutes daily on UCW (see above). In Bangladesh, the feminist Research Institution, Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) and AA Bangladesh jointly provided training to the project staffs on the use of Time Dairy on 9 and 10 October 2016 in Gaibandha and Lamonirhat. Forty six staff (38 Community Mobilisers, 6 Project Officers and 2 Project Coordinators) participated and received the training. After receiving the training partner staff.Summary of research findings: The average duration of unpaid care work by the female respondents are 7 around hours; the maximum duration extends up to 15 hours a day. Around 50% of the respondents have 7.5 hours of unpaid care work which includes child care, elderly care, fuel collection, water collection, cooking, cleaning, washing, and other household chores. For men the care works occupy 2 hours on the average, and 50% of them engage in 1.5 hours of unpaid care work. The average duration of paid work by the female respondents is around 1.5 hours and over 70% of the respondents have less than 0.5 hour of paid work which includes wages labour, small business etc. For men the paid works occupy 6 hours on the average, and 50% of them engage in 7 hours of paid care work. In Ghana 900 men have been sensitized and 300 selected to complete the time diary cards. The data when entered and analysed will be shared by all stakeholders. The allocation of the total sample has been done in proportion with the total groups managed by each partner in each district. In Pakistan, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.2.4 Organise annual community sensitisation meetings with traditional and religious leaders, men and boys to champion the redistribution of care roles and challenge social constructs at the community level through (Five annual meetings in each of the 8 districts in Ghana; 1 annual meeting in Rwanda; 80 annual meetings in Bangladesh; 10 in Pakistan)

In Rwanda, sensitization meetings were organized in all 11 sectors. Participants included representatives of National Women Council at sectors and cells levels, heads of police in charge of GBV unit, executive secretaries of sectors and cells, in charge civil status and legal advisors of sectors, religious leaders, women facilitators, and partner staff. This meeting was to challenge the existing cultural beliefs which do not value Unpaid Care Work k and the unfair distribution of Unpaid Care Work within household between men and women, boys and girls. It has been a great opportunity to discourage harmful cultural habits to achieve redistribution of family roles, which leads to reduction of family conflicts and VAW. Local leaders and religious leaders demonstrated their zeal to fight against some cultural bias promoting unequal workload of UCW. In each meeting, participants were around 700 community members and different leaders. In Bangladesh, in order to sensitize traditional leaders, religious leaders, men, boys, and communities on Unpaid Care Work (UCW) to become change agents they attended SKS organized sensitization meeting in November 2016. Twenty community sensitization meetings were organized in five unions in Gaibandha and attended by 1,003 (431women, 477 men and 95 youth) participants. Participants including traditional and religious leaders became familiar with the burden of Unpaid Care Work and committed to help their women at household level. They also said that they will promote and convey the message to their communities. Young boys were inspired the discussions and some suggested that they will share with their friends and will support their mothers or wives with the household chores. “A family cannot go forward without the role women play regularly. Darkness covers a family if there is no woman in a family. So, we need to support and recognize the work they do without reluctance ’’ said Mr. Rabiul Islam, a community member of Moddhya Uria village. In Ghana, this activity is in the plans of 2017 In Pakistan, during reporting quarter one community sensitization meeting was conducted with 30 participants including traditional and religious leaders, men and boys to champion the redistribution of care roles and challenge social constructs at the community level. These traditional and religious leaders were from within the same community of the project areas included social, political and religious leadership. Main objective of this session was to sensitize men, boys, traditional and religious leaders about the importance and rights of women at household and community level and to share the social and religious perspectives of women’s Unpaid Ware Work and redistribution of care roles. Participants were also sensitized on how men, boys, traditional and religious leaders of the community can play their role in redistribution of UCW among men and women for a balanced work load. Dr Saeed Abdullah, a religious Scholar has facilitated some sessions as the local communities rely and respect the words of the religious leaders. Referring to different verses of Holy Quran the religious scholar shared Islamic perspective on recognition of women rights and women’s Unpaid Care Work. It was shared with the participants that there is a general misconception regarding women’s socio-economic rights in the religion but Islam encourages women to have same rights as men as stated in verse 228 of Surah al Baqarah of the Holy Quran that women not only have ownership rights but are also empowered to manage their properties and spend their income at their will. It is also clarified in the Holy Qur’an

that whatever is earned by women, it becomes their sole property and none (even husband) is authorized to take or use them without the owner’s permission. References of different Muslim noble women of the Holy Prophet’s time were also shared who used to adopt certain means of livelihood and spend their earning by their own will for family needs as well as for charity work. Participants showed their commitment to provide support to women groups in their respective areas. Mr. Tariq in the end of session quoted that “It opened my eyes to know that women actually have a lot of rights given by religion but the community in general (including me) and the women themselves are not aware of”. Another participant committed that “I will champion the redistribution of care roles at my home and will give some time to my wife to relax and to engage in soc ial activities and the activities of women group.”

2.2.5 Organize annual sensitization meetings on UCW for young girls and boys at schools targeting their UCW understanding/challenging roles of men and women in the household. (Meeting with 100 boys clubs and 100 girls clubs in schools in Ghana; 1 meeting in Rwanda; 20 meetings in Bangladesh)

In Rwanda, In Musanze, Nyaruguru and Nyanza, around 17,070 boys and girls from primary and secondary schools were sensitized on UCW. 29 schools were reached (15 in Nyanza, 8 in Musanze and 5 in Ruheru). In Karongi District, This sensitization reached over 5,840 students and 120 teachers at 10 schools. In Gisagara District, the sensitization reached over 8,150 students and 160 teachers at 15 schools. The young girls and boys have understood the roles of the unpaid care work in the financial issues that their families are facing. These young boys and girls have pledged to share unpaid care work with their home mates in order to reduce time their mothers spend on them. Further, children also pledged to discuss with their parents the negative effects of unpaid care work to the family development as well request their father to fairly redistribute unpaid care work. As a result these young boys and girls at school in Karongi proposed an idea of introducing clubs which will continue sensitization at their schools and in the community. In Bangladesh, partner staff organized and facilitated 20 annual sensitization meetings on Unpaid Care Work for young girls and boys at schools and Madrasa covering 10 Unions in Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts. The total number of participants was 723 (537 in Gaibandha and 186 Lalmonirhat) have participated the sensitization meetings. The participants included 50 women, 213 girls, 96 men and 178 boys composed of school management committees, teachers, boys and girls. The Project Officer, Project Coordinator and Community Mobilisers organized and facilitated this event. After the event. The participants understood the need to recognize, reduce and redistribute Unpaid Care Work among family members. All participants committed that they would support women in doing Unpaid Care Work at household level. Because of examination period at school, Lalmonirhat team could not complete all sessions with students of 10 schools. These activities have been shifted in next year. In Ghana, this activity is in the plans of 2017

2.2.6 A minimum of two case studies developed and promoted in each country on examples of UCW redistribution (Ghana will promote through 16 radio discussions (2 per district) on unpaid care re-distribution, design and broadcast an annual national TV program on unpaid care work and produce leaflets as part of sensitization for duty bearers, other NGOs and policy makers and the general public; Rwanda will promote through national newspapers and key stakeholders, Bangladesh will promote through circulation to national media outlets and Pakistan will promote through circulation to national newspapers)

In Rwanda, the project has trained Journalists on UCW to ensure they understand UCW concepts. A number of journalists started writing and publishing stories on UCW. In Ghana, One case study has been developed and shared by AAG communication team with the communication manager of POWER at AAUK. Four radio discussions have been held in Upper East Region at Radio Gurune FM Style, a local station. The discussions were led by community facilitators and representatives of women group leaders. The main topics for discussion were on unpaid care work; educating the public on it, providing information on how it affects households progress when the burden it left to the woman alone. 49 phone calls were received involving 35 males and 24 females sharing their perspectives about the topic. Many callers, mostly men, were negative about the topic while other men also contributed to suggesting strategies to lessen the burden of unpaid care work on women and girls. Two similar radio discussions were also done in Nanumba North and South districts to educate women and their communities on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and unpaid care work. Some community members in their phone in calls reiterated their support for the campaign and will continue to support the sensitization process at their various communities. G. Some men and women still have the perception that unpaid care work is the preserve of women. In all, 13 radio sensitization programmes were done within the last six months of the year in 2016 involving the last quarter of the year. The radio panel were mainly women group leaders, and women community facilitators who felt proud in taking the lead to sensitize the public and they also see it as a way of building their own capacity on the issues that have been discussed so far. These sensitizations will continue in 2017 as a result of the relationships that have been created between some of the radio stations and women groups.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, this activity is in the plans of the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

2.2.7 Present awards for 7 best writers(journalists) on women unpaid care recognition, redistribution and reduction each year (Five in Rwanda and two in Ghana)

In Ghana, thirty five journalists composed of men and women from the media, local government officials and Ministry of Food Agriculture took part in the sensitization and training. The training content covered the key outcomes, the project theory of change, and areas such as violence against women, unpaid care work, CRSA and access to markets. The main purpose was to inform participants about the project, seek their commitment and stimulate them to support the project with the intention of increasing the visibility of rural women farmers, smallholder farmers, issues of violence against women, and unpaid care work. The activity on awards for media men and women in 2016 was changed to sensitization and training workshop for media personnel on unpaid care work in Ghana. The rationale was to do sensitization for media to understand the issues to report on before an award is presented. In Rwanda, this activity is in the plans of 2017.

2.2.10 Develop and organize 20 theatre/drama show to raise awareness of and promote recognition, reduction and redistribution of UCW annually at community level. Bangladesh only

In Bangladesh, during this quarter, after reviewing the proposal from the interested theatre group/agency/individuals, ActionAid Bangladesh selected Centre for Research and Communication (CRC) to undertake the initiative of interactive theatre to develop awareness raising drama to recognize, reduce and redistribute the burden of Unpaid Care Work at community level. In 2016 CRC developed two scripts one for Gaibandha (Luckir Songshar) and the other for Lalmonirhat (Fulmalar Songshar) based on the local context Between November and December they also trained two performance groups for the two areas. CRC also developed three inter actors in each team to interact with the audience during the theatre/drama show in the community. AAB team watched the performance before it was shared to the community and made the necessary input to improve its content. CRC have revised the content of the scripts and trained the revised version with the performance teams. The performer teams are ready now and they will perform in 2017 to onward to raise awareness of and promote recognition, reduction and redistribution of UCW.

2.2.11 Six monthly Spouse and Family members meeting within each of 200 women’s groups. Bangladesh only

In Bangladesh, total of 200 meetings has been organized in Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts with the spouse and family members of the members of 200 women groups during 4

th quarter. Total of 9966 participants (Gaibandha- 5,030, Lalmonirhat-4,930) attended in the spouse meeting. There

were 5,261 women and 4,705 men. Md. Shajahan Mia, husband of Shanaj Parvin, cashier of Amraow Pari Nari Dall said, ”I have to help my wife in the house chores from now on to reduce the pressure on her’’. The meetings were attended by parents, in-laws, brother and sisters to sensitize them about the unpaid care work. The participants who attended the spouse meeting have understood about the workloads, the burden of women’s Unpaid Care Work and the need to recognize, reduce and redistribute.

2.2.13 Support 10 men's groups with a total membership of 1000 men to meet quarterly in order to sensitise men on women's unpaid care work Pakistan only

In Pakistan, Saibaan partner has completed the process of group formation by forming 45 men support groups at village level having membership of 505 with an average membership of 12 to 13. Although only 5 men groups are planned in each district but as the total number of members in men’s groups are 500 so this is impractical to have 100 men in one group. Similarly, culturally this is also essential to have the men engagement in each village for providing support to women groups; so in each village men’s support groups were also formed with membership of 12-13 men/group on average. Further by clustering of eight individual groups of adjacent villages, five main groups were formed. Group formation was followed by participatory methodology. Main objective of these groups is to sensitize men on the issue of Unpaid Care Work, to engage them with local representatives and government officials to mobilize district resources for reducing unpaid care work of women in the target areas. Men groups’ quarterly meetings could not be done because groups were formed in the 4

th quarter and the focus remained on identification and physical

verification of beneficiaries so cluster meetings of men groups could not be organized and are carried forward to first quarter of year 2017.

OUTPUT 2.3 Interventions aimed at reducing unpaid care work (child care initiatives, water harvesting technologies, energy saving cooking stoves, solar cookers, fodder trees, cutters and woodlots) are tested and scaled up in communities and evidence documented by 2020

70% of women trained on implementing and managing time saving household or community interventions have the skills and confidence to share their training with others, by the end of each training

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

round

75% of female users report satisfaction and time savings with interventions that they use Progress: 100%

Target: 75%

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, 100 % of users have reported satisfaction with rainwater harvesting tanks, childcare centres and cooking biogas report satisfaction and

time saving with these interventions. The progress of this indicator will be measured in future years in Pakistan, Ghana and Bangladesh.

7 types of time saving interventions for which evidence of their success is documented by the end of the project Progress: 4

Target: 7 types

Baseline: 0

This indicator will be fully measured later in the project. In Rwanda, So far 3 types of time saving interventions have been established. Documentation will be done in rest of project years. A total of 110 women groups in Nyanza, Musanze and Nyaruguru districts, 104 families were supported with 3000L rainwater tanks. Five (5) child care centres (2 in Musanze, 2 in Nyanza and 1 in Nyaruguru) were set up and 21 care givers were trained and equipped with learning and playing materials. In Korong district in partnership with district leaders, 36 women have been supported with Biogas; 45 families have been supported with rainwater harvesting tanks of 3000L per each tank and 1 childcare center with 5 caregivers has been set up. In Gisagara District, 54 women were supported with rainwater harvesting tanks of 3,000L to facilitate a woman to save her time spent in fetching water during rainy season. Families have been mobilized to not missing the chance of having improved energy cooking known as BIOGAS with government funds and now 20 families got cooking biogas. Also in Gisagara district, 2 childcare centres were established and equipped with learning and playing materials. In Bangladesh, child care centres have been set up. In Pakistan, 250 women received fodder cutters. Further activities are planned in 2017.

Activities which contribute to Output 2.3:

2.3.1 Establish 42 child care initiatives (24 in Ghana, 6 in Rwanda, 12 in Bangladesh) as models for learning and advocacy

In Rwanda, project has supported the setup of childcare centres in all 5 districts (2 in Musanze, 2 in Nyanza and 1 in Nyaruguru, Korongi 1 and Gisagara 2) and equipped with basic materials. The two in Gisagara receive children 395; the one in Nyaruguru receives 150, Musanze 181 and Nyanza 164. Children have access to care services and women gained more time for productive work. In Bangladesh, five new day care centres have been introduced in five unions, two in Gaibandha and three in Lalmonirhat during this quarter. SKS partner has procured the materials for 12 day care centres, seven for Gaibandha and five for Lalmonirhat. Furthermore, the POWER project has partnered with Seasimpur Workshop Bangladesh (SWB) and they agreed to provide some materials for all day care centres for free. SKS also procured materials from local markets including stationary items, TV, remote, DVD player, plastic furniture items (table, tools, jug, glass etc), children books, toys, CD and distributed to the child care day centres for free. SKS also organised parents meeting in the day care centres. During this quarter total of twenty four meetings were organized (18 in Gaibandha and 6 in Lalmonirhat) with parents, women’s groups and federation members to strengthen child day care centres. 588 Parents including groups’ and federation members participated in these meetings. The Community Mobilisers and partner Project Officers mainly arranged and facilitated these meeting. Gradually parents will organise and facilitate the meeting. In the parents meeting, each centre selected 3 bank signatories from day care centre management committee and federation representative in a participatory way, contributions should be increased and regularized, Federation chairperson or secretary as well as management committee will receive day care centre materials with maintain DOA and necessary papers. The children are staying in the day care centres for 5-6 hours every day. It reduces mothers’ time for child care and as a result mothers of the children of the day care centres get this time to engage with other works that may be social, economic. In Ghana, four child care centres have been established in Ghana. The child care centres will be completed by end of March, 2017. The menial work on construction and rehabilitation has been done and Regional Development Programmes will support with resources to furnish the centres with concrete materials to support effective operation of the centres. All the centres will be operational by end of March, 2017. Additional 7 will be constructed and rehabilitated in 2017 and will start in March, 2017. The child centres will be operational by end of march, 2017. When trainings for child care givers are done then the centres will finalize the recruitment of children and start operations.

2.3.2 Train (through one 5 day workshop in each country) and pay 176 people (80 in Ghana, 60 in Rwanda and 36 in Bangladesh) to provide childcare.

In Rwanda, the project organized five day training and 36 caregivers were trained. The 36 caregivers were also paid for their services for the day child care centres. There are 5 caregivers in Korong, 10 Gisagara, 8 in Musanze, 5 in Nyaruguru and 8 Nyanza. Each childcare center has a minimum of 4 caregivers. All trained care givers are women In Bangladesh, in December 2016, POWER team completed 5 days long residential training for the facilitators of Day Care Centres at SKS-Bharatkhali training centre. Total 36 (21 from Gaibandha and 15 from Lalmonirhat) facilitators and 2-Project Officers from both districts participated and received training. From 12 (7 for Gaibandha and 5 for Lalmonirhat) day care centres, 36 facilitators received the training who will play the role of child carers. Seasimpur Workshop Bangladesh (SWB) facilitated the whole training as a part of collaboration between SWB and SKS under POWER Project. All of the participants were women and the major content of the workshop included issues relevant with Child development and different development stages of a child, understanding a child and communicating with children, techniques to teach a child and pre-school education. In Ghana, this activity is planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period

2.3.3 Provide 2020 low cost rain water harvesting (20 in Ghana, 1000 in Rwanda, 2,000 in Pakistan) and eight drinking water supply schemes (following feasibility study) in Pakistan to reduce time spent on water collection.

In Rwanda, the project provided and distributed a total of 203 rain water tanks with capacity of 3000L per each (17 in Nyaruguru, 52 in Nyanza, 35 in Musanze, 45 in Karongi and 54 in Gisagara) to facilitate a woman to save time spent on fetching water specifically during rainy season. In Ghana and Pakistan, this activity is planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period

2.3.7 Provision of fodder tree seeds and fodder cutters to 1,500 women Pakistan only

AA Pakistan has completed provision of fodder cutters and fodder seeds to 250 rural women during this reporting quarter. 245 women beneficiaries directly received the fodder cutters whereas 5 were received by their family members on their behalf because of their health issues or difficult terrains. For provision of fodder cutters and fodder seeds a thorough process of right holders’ selection was followed. Based on participatory poverty ranking, women groups identified and nominated right holders in form of resolutions. These right holders included women small farmers having children of age below fifteen years and directly involved in livestock and agricultural activities, having at least one large animal and one canal land or able to manage one canal land considering their willingness to cultivate fodder seeds to fulfil livestock feed requirements and for participation in group activities. Women groups played a key role in identification of potential right holders while group facilitators facilitated the groups in identification process. Based on this an intensive selection and verification process was undertaken and overall 5-10% identified right holders were either rejected not meeting the selection criteria for provision of fodder cutters or undergone more rigorous verifications. To ensure sustainability of the intervention, terms of partnership were signed with the selected beneficiaries

and with the women groups’ representatives. The main objective of this intervention was to support women in reducing their workload and time spent on Unpaid Care Work to more productive work; and to enable them to participate in social and political activities and also to be able to rest. Through this activity the process of involvement of women in decision making role was initiated at village level as women led the identification and nomination process for selection of beneficiaries whereas men groups endorsed women’s decisions. Endorsement from men was only for cross verification of the nominees to avoid any future conflicts amongst community. Final selection authority however was with women groups only; men were just to share their inputs. At the time of receiving fodder cutters women receivers reflected their satisfaction from this intervention by saying; that these fodder cutter machines would reduce their workload. As these machines are easy to use so other family members including men and boys in their households could support them in fodder

arrangement, in this way their responsibility of fodder arrangement would be shared by boys and men too.

2.3.9 21 annual in-country learning exchange visits to learn about effective interventions to reduce UCW (8 annual visits- 1 per district in Ghana of 3 days with 5 women and 2 partner staff; 1 annual visit in Rwanda; 2 annual visits in Bangladesh; 10 visits in Pakistan)

4 annual in country exchange visits to learn about effective interventions to reduce unpaid care work were held (2 visits were done in Rwanda and two visits were done Bangladesh). In Rwanda, the project has conducted a learning exchange to the public Integrated Development model village located in Rweru Sector in Bugesera District on UCW interventions and other infrastructures established by government as a model to other districts. It was attended by around 95 participants including 80 women from 200 women groups working with POWER. Participants have seen how women in Rweru model village are facilitated with cooking biogas, household water harvesting, electricity, childcare, health centre, market, handcrafts centre, financial institution, improved kitchen, improved animal shelters, public transport and all these are within the village(photo: 20161209_143223). Participants have learnt that the infrastructures seen in the visited model village contribute much in the reduction unpaid care work and women committed to request decision makers in their respective location replicate the same infrastructures in their communities. Mukarusagara Melanie lives in the visited Model village said that the burden has significantly reduced due to closest access to village infrastructures. In Bangladesh, between November and December 2016, selected participants from the women groups of Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat team made two in–country learning exchange visits. Major objectives of the visit initiatives were to learn and share knowledge and experience of best practice regarding day care centres and solar cooking stoves. In November 40 participants (18 from Lalmonirhat and 22 from Gaibandha) visited a child day care centre of Nilphamari district of ponchopukur union, implemented by Research Initiative of Bangladesh (RIB). The visiting team were facilitators of day care centres, Union Parishad (UP) members (Male and Female), federation’s representatives, women group members, and civil society person and project staff from SKS. They learnt about day care management system including the child selection, materials use, children’s time spent at centre, community and parents’ contribution, teaching method etc. Members of the visiting team mentioned that this visit will help them to implement and manage day care centre in their community. They have learnt that the centre is totally managed by parents- ensuring children attendance, cleanliness, tutor honorarium, collecting centre materials, etc. RIB assists them with some materials and capacity building for tutors. Mothers of the children of the day care centre are getting additional time for other productive work while children are in the centre. Finally the visiting team said they will take similar initiatives in their communities. In December 50 participants (22 from Lalmonirhat and 28 from Gaibandha) visited SHOUHARDO III Program in Saghata, Gaibandha implemented by SKS-Foundation on improved cooking stove initiative. The group visited the households who are using ICS (Improved Cooking Stove). The visiting team learned that Improved Cooking Stove is environmentally friendly and human health friendly. The fuel cost is low and the installation cost is not high. A family can install a one way oven by BDT 450 and technical service for installation is available at community level. Many Non-governments organization provides this service. Group members are inspired after visiting the ICS. All participants committed that, they will install improved cooking stove at their home. Saleha Begum, Precedent of Brahmaputtra Nari Unnayan Samity, Gaibandha said “If we can use improved cooking stoves we could save time to engage ourselves with income generating activities easily.” In Ghana, this activity is planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period In Pakistan, during the quarter, one in-country learning exchange visit for the women group facilitators and group members of Mansehra district was organized to learn from best practices about effective interventions that provide socio-economic opportunities for women through reduction of Unpaid Care Work in the rural communities. Forty three women including women group members and facilitators visited village Grang UC Sum Elahi Mang where Saibaan partner with the financial assistance from Oxfam Germany has constructed women friendly spaces for social and economic activities of women. This village is one of the model villages where women used to involve higher loads of Unpaid Care Work and had difficulties to

fetch water and to access livelihood opportunities. In this village, women skill development programs were initiated and the graduates were linked to the nearest markets to market their products and for employment. Women were also involved in monitoring and management of construction work of friendly spaces, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation DWSS and access paths. All these interventions contributed to provide economic opportunities for women through reduction of Unpaid Care Work and increased time for productive work. Visiting women were inspired by different examples shared by local women especially from a local role model Mrs. Balqees Fatima who shared experiences of the evolution of Grang’ women and how she set an example for other women of the area after economic empowerment. Visiting women also learnt how they can replicate visited models in their areas. They planned to reflect back these learnings in their groups with other women. A participant reflecting on her learnings from the visit quoted “I realize that woman is not the liability of man in the Household setup she can play leading role in economic support to the household”.

Outcome 3: By the end of 2020, 21,000 rural women have more secure and sustainable access to markets and productive resources leading to increased income

60%of women report increased, more regular access to markets by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

50% of women surveyed who report improved yields as a result of using CRSA techniques and agricultural inputs by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

30% of sampled women who report an increase in their income by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years

OUTPUT 3.1 15,200 (Ghana 3000, Rwanda 6000, Bangladesh 5000, Pakistan 1200) rural women are trained on market access, processing, packaging and marketing methodologies by 2020.

15,200 women trained on business skills, markets and processing by the end of the project

In Rwanda, Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the activities that contribute to this indicator are planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

690 women's groups keeping accurate financial records to manage their income and expenditure

In Rwanda, Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the activities that contribute to this indicator are planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

80% of women with improved knowledge of how to access markets and how to get current market information by the end of the project

In Rwanda, Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the activities that contribute to this indicator are planned in the subsequent years of the project implementation period.

Activities which contribute to Output 3.1:

3.1.8 Organise and support the participation of three national (Ghana, Rwanda and Pakistan) and 5 regional (Ghana and Rwanda) yearly women agricultural producers and processors exhibition to link women producers and processors to agro- inputs dealers, agro-service providers , aggregators and marketers and agro-exporters and other actors in the value chains in Ghana and Rwanda (3 National Exhibitions and 5 regional exhibitions)

In Rwanda, the project has supported women to market their products including beans, soybean meat (TOFU), maize flour, banana, vegetables, handcrafts, mushrooms, seeds, skills to preserve seeds and management of livestock, among others. The participants visited their products brought to the site of event celebration and people were surprised with the women producing such products.. Consumers, visitors and leaders appreciated the great work of women smallholder farmers and were surprised with skills of preserving their seeds and transformation soybeans into TOFU (soya meat) and soya milk. The exhibition took place in all districts except Korong district as they did not celebrated the IRWD at district level. In Gisagara, districts leaders promised women to link them to local competitiveness fund operating at district level. Exhibition in Korong district will be done in 2017(Gisagara report is attached). The exhibition stand of women from Nyaruguru and Nyanza districts was visited by government high officials including first lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame. She appreciated the great work of women with support of POWER Project in Rwanda. During this event POWER project also distributed cows to 45 women in Nyaruguru Districts and FIRST LADY gave these cows to women on behalf of POWER Project team.(photo exhibition Gisagara. In Bangladesh, Ghana and Pakistan the implementation of this activity is in the plan of the subsequent years of the project period

Output 3.2 690 women's groups provided with and supported to access productive resources by 2020

690 women's groups trained and supported to set up and manage functioning saving schemes to increase their access to finance by the end of the project Progress: 400 groups

Target: 690 groups

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, the project has so far mobilized all 200 groups to introduce Voluntary Saving and Lending Groups (VSL) initiatives and with experiences in FLOW1, group facilitators supervise the functioning of these initiatives. Groups were linked to financial institutions and opened bank accounts to deposit their savings to secure money and to access bank loans. All 200 groups were supported with basic Kits (boxes, bags, pens, calculator machines and books) to ensure proper performance of saving and lending activities. To ensure monitoring of these groups’ activities, an MIS system was developed to track progress of group saving and credit progress. POWER project will strengthen this initiative in 2017. So far in Gisagara district women groups saved eight million six hundreds Rwandan francs (approximately $11,000) and this helps members to borrow money to run small trading initiatives hence generate money for medical insurance and other needs. In Bangladesh, with the purpose of increasing access to finance, 5,000 women of 200 reflection action women circles received training on saving schemes. This half day training was conducted at the respective reflection action women circles. This training focuses the following issues the concept of savings and its importance, Utilization of savings, process of maintaining savings. Use of saving register, pass book, use of cash book, and ledger book. ActionAid Bangladesh and partner SKS Foundation provided all of these materials including saving pass book for maintain individual saving records as a part of proper management of group saving scheme. AAB and SKS Foundation also guided women groups to develop guideline for groups’ saving and capital management along with training for saving scheme. Beside SKS Foundation follows up regularly to support women to save regularly and deposit their savings in the bank account subsequently and update books of accounts similarly. It is also the responsibility of partner organisation that the update information of individual and group’s total saving is disseminated to all of its members equally on the regular basis. In Ghana and Pakistan progress will be measured in subsequent years of the project

20,000 women accessing seeds through seed banks or direct inputs by the end of the project Progress: 5110

Target: 20, 000

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, the project has so far provided seeds for 110 women groups of small holder farmers out of 200 groups due to limited budget allocated to this activity in 2016. More seeds will be distributed in 2017 and the rest of groups will be reached in 2017. Around 9,755Kgs of Seeds distributed included maize, wheat, potatoes and vegetable seeds to applying CRSA practices in their respective farms. Seed banks will be set up in 2017 to facilitate women smallholder farmers preserving their local seeds. Women could timely plant quality seeds and will preserve their own seeds in the coming years. More data on this will be reflected in annual report as crops are still in the field. In Bangladesh, total of 5,000 women of 200 reflection action circles received vegetables seeds. Vegetable seeds for winter and in summer season the below was distributed to the 5,000 women from POWER project. High Yielding Variety (HYV) winter vegetables seeds (i.e. bottle gourd, country bean, Indian spinach, radish, red amaranth, kangkong, bitter gourd, ladies finger/okra). Moreover 15 women of Gondharaj group of Burail village under Udakhali union got eggplant, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, maize seeds from DAE through IPM school. In Ghana and Pakistan progress will be measured in subsequent years of the project

50% of women reporting improved service provision from agricultural extension workers by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years. In Rwanda, Women groups are linked to government agronomists and to agro-dealers at sector level to ensure access to improved agricultural inputs. However, for this indicator, data will be generated in baseline, mid-term review and end of project evaluation. Women still face insufficient government extensionists where there is only one agronomist and one veterinary per sector

Activities which contribute to Output 3.2:

3.2.3 Train and support 690 women's groups to set up and manage saving schemes (to support women to access finance for income generating activities) (Ghana- 3 day training for 400 (25 per district) Community Facilitators/Women group leaders; Rwanda 200 groups through 1 day training; Bangladesh 200 groups through 1 day training each; Pakistan 90 women's groups)

In Bangladesh, during the weekly reflection-action meetings, the importance of making saving scheme has been discussed. The real economic status of the selected participant of POWER project is below poverty line. So it is very tough for them to take any income generating initiative by their own and individually. The objective of set up saving scheme is to make a fund collectively, so that in future group member can take any income generating initiative to overcome poverty and develop their livelihood. Partner organization is guiding with necessary support to understand importance of the saving for fund mobilization by them and maintain the process of saving scheme, keeping the record of saving, process to opening bank account etc. From May 2016, each group made decision in a participatory way to start-up savings (BDT 10-20) considering their capacity. According to the decision each circle members deposited determined money to the Cashier and managed the whole savings maintaining necessary documentation. In this quarter POWER team completed 200 training batches on how to set-up and manages saving scheme between November and December 2016 in Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts. All 5,000 participants from 200 women’s groups participated and received the training. In Pakistan, during 4

th quarter of 2016 one training workshop was organized by Saibaan in

Mansehra district with 45 women groups’ facilitators and other women representatives to set up and manage saving schemes. Main objective of the training was to enhance the capacities of women groups to start and mange saving plans and schemes at village level. Thirty one women group facilitators, thirteen women group members and ten men from men support groups attended the event to support women groups in the future. Group works were used to discuss how savings can be utilized to access income generating opportunities and small scale entrepreneur can be established.

3.2.5 Rural women in each of 8 district meet with local traditional leaders 30 times per year to lobby for long term access to productive land (2016-2019) Ghana only

In Ghana, 32 engagements meetings were held in year 2016 to lobby traditional leaders for long term access to lands in 8 districts where the project is being implemented. The women groups successfully drew their action plans to engage traditional leaders in their respective communities, organize and had various dialogues meetings with the support of project partners for secured access to land. Leaders of women groups were confident to present their demands during the meetings. 10 chiefs indicated they would consult the sub and family heads to ensure the request is guaranteed. Five chiefs also promised to allocate lands to women in the coming farming season. The women learnt about the process of community level engagement and promised to take similar steps to make follow up on the issues raised and agreed upon.

3.2.7 Network with organic farming companies to advocate for access to agricultural inputs with Local Duty bearers Rwanda only

In Rwanda, a network meeting was organised with companies. The meeting gathered different organic farming companies operated in Rwanda included Gako Organic Farming and Training centre, Rwanda green best, green win innovation ltd, Agasaro organic ltd under their national network called Rwanda Organic Agricultural Movement. The meeting discussed the promotion of organic farming with 200 women smallholder farmers and establish selling points of organic food from local to national levels, a joint advocacy plan for the increased public support for smallholder farmers in Rwanda and improved access to profitable markets for organically produced food and 2017 plans and legal documents for 200 women groups working with POWER Project. Participants pledged to welcome 200 women groups in their national network and committed to support 200 women groups to be registered under their organization with trading certificate.

3.2.10 Train 200 women volunteers on extension service providers in Rwanda

In Rwanda, the project has organized five day training for 200 women volunteers from 200 women groups, and was empowered with knowledge and skills in livestock rearing and veterinary services that will enable them to provide support and guidance to their respective group members and other residents of their localities. This activity is expected to contribute to the wellbeing of livestock, crops and harvest management as the public extensionists are not enough to timely respond to all farmers’ requests. Trainees received animal tool kit containing basic equipment helping them to

deliver good service. Local Veterinaries and agronomists also participated in the training and this has established good partnership between women volunteers on extension services and sector agronomists and veterinaries as they reduce their workloads.

3.2.13 Support 200 women groups in Rwanda and 1000 women in Ghana with livestock to have access to animal manure and animal droppings as raw materials for compost making to be used to improve soil fertility and productivity

In Rwanda, the POWER Project has provided a total of 292 cows to selected women within their groups (46 in Musanze, 64 in Nyanza and 45 in Nyaruguru, 60 in Korong and 77 in Gisagara) to help women farmers with access to manure for soil fertility and milk to fight malnutrition and achieve food security through CRSA practices. This activity was also challenging some cultural norms that only man who is eligible to own a cow but FLOW POWER project programme has changed this mind set. The women who received cows share the manure with the group members who don’t have cows. The activity will be done in Ghana in 2017

Output 3.3 690 women's groups practice and understand climate resilient sustainable agricultural techniques by 2020

80% of sampled rural women trained with improved knowledge of CRSA principles and techniques by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in the future years .In Rwanda, women trained have improved CRSA knowledge. The project trained 50 women for 2 day to empower women with CRSA practical skills. Training covered topics include good agricultural practices, seed preservation, fertilizer use, organic manure and compost production, soil and water conservation methodology. In Bangladesh, 47 project staffs and community mobilizer received training on CRSA principles and techniques (Men=11 and Women=36). The CRSA training focused the following key issues; concept of climate change, green house effects and causes, Climate changes vulnerability in Asia, global warming, climate change with rural women, men farmers. Conventional, traditional and sustainable agriculture methods (use of seeds, cropping pattern, cover crops, trap crops, irrigation, fertilizer, composting, green manure, soil conservation, biodiversity, natural pesticide-insecticide), approaches and pillars of CRSA, Seeds and community seeds bank , processing and marketing techniques. Activity planned for 2017 in Pakistan and Ghana

690 of women's groups that have initiated or supported members to initiate CRSA techniques by the end of the project Progress: 200

Target: 690

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, all 200 women groups have initiated CRSA practices. They apply animal manure and compost and mulching which help to keep soil moisture for longer period during extended droughts. These practices are expected to improve soil fertility and structures leading to increased production. In Bangladesh, women groups/reflection action circles started homestead gardening and to some extend this practice followed some CRSA technique like seed preservation, using of compost fertilizer, using of organic pesticide, small amount seeds per pit/bed, vegetables cultivation in pit, bed, pot, bucket, sac, and prepared compost pit, used compost fertilizers, mulching and fencing.Activity planned for 2017 in Pakistan and Ghana

70% of women small holder farmers provide positive feedback on their experiences of using CRSA techniques by the end of the project

The progress of this indicator will be measured in future years in all countries. In Bangladesh, 3,000 women from 200 women groups/reflection action circles started homestead gardening and to some extent this practice followed some CRSA technique like seed preservation, using of compost fertilizer, using of organic pesticide, small amount seeds per pit/bed, vegetables cultivation in pit, bed, pot, bucket, sac, and prepared compost pit, used compost fertilizers, mulching, fence etc. Before practicing homestead gardening, all members of 200 women groups/reflection action circles received training on home stead gardening and received seeds support (see annex -19 and pictures on hive report/Q4/photo Q4). Women participants of 200 reflection circles, women leader and department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) were involved in CRSA initiatives. Data on this will be collected in Mid-term review in Rwanda, Ghana and Pakistan

Activities which contribute to Output 3.3:

3.3.1 Develop a manual on Good Agricultural Practices on CRSA interventions for women smallholder farmers such as use of green manure, cover crops, composting, use of multipurpose trees and animal

In Bangladesh, two handbooks on good agricultural practice on Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture have been published. Both of them were published in Bengali language, so that women group members and relevant stakeholders can easily understand the write up to apply. Both of the publications have acknowledged KKM and AFA as the collaborating network on CRSA issue. The `Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture’ hand book has been reprinted. This manual explains the issues concerning sustainable agriculture, and to facilitate the process of CRSA. This handbook explains the key components and topical issues on sustainable agriculture and draw insights in designing local sustainable agriculture programmes. The second handbook on CRSA series is on Community Seed Bank. This book has been translated by an experienced translator. Community Seed Bank

husbandry. handbook focuses on: defining community seed banks; introducing the process for designing them; and answering key questions related to seed

banks and seed-related activities, including seed procurement. POWER project printed 500 copies of each of the handbooks.

3.3.6 Support 200 women groups with multi-purpose tree seedlings for soil erosion control and animal fodder Rwanda only

In Rwanda, the project has contracted suppliers to provide for 200 women groups with 390,180 leguminous tree seedlings of Leucena and Calliandra which will support in producing fodder for animals, fix atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility, protect soil from erosion, produce stakes for climbing beans and contribute to carbon sequestration. In Musanze, women received 90,720 tree seedlings where every woman received at least 84 tree seedlings, in Nyanza, project distributed 134, 460 tree seedlings to 1620 women and every woman has received at least 83 tree seedlings while in Ruheru, 30,000 tree seedlings were distributed to 600 women and every woman has received 50 tree seedlings. In Gisagara, project distributed 81,000 tree seedlings and each woman received 50 seedlings and in 1080 women received 54, 000 tree seedlings, each woman with 50 seedlings. However, rainfall in the previous rainy season has been very irregular which will affect the growth of seedlings.

3.3.8 Train 200 women groups on vegetable gardening Agricultural Extension Service providers Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, to understand more on climate resilient sustainable agriculture (CRSA) and increase participant’s technical knowledge, skills on modern vegetables gardening and cultivation technologies, the training on Vegetables Gardening has continued till end of this quarter. Seventy women groups received this training last quarter. The remaining 122 women groups (32 women groups in Gaibandha and 90 women groups in Lalmonirhat- received the training during this quarter, where total 3031 participants learnt about systematic vegetable gardening in light of CRSA. Here to mention a number of training participants (63) could not able to join the training due to temporary/seasonal migration for flood, sickness and employment opportunities during rice harvesting. Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) and Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) from the Department of Agriculture and Extension (DAE) of both districts with the assistance of project staffs have facilitated these trainings. From this training participants came to know and increased knowledge on CRSA, homestead gardening, role of women in agriculture, season wise vegetable cultivation, about the resilient seed and preservation technique, seed bank, compost manure, pesticide management, irrigation management, preparing bed and pit etc. They have received hands-on training through practical sessions. After receiving the training participants prepared pits and bed for planting seed on their own. Every participants planted bean and bottle guard seed in their homestead gardens. Those who do not have their own land, they planted seed in alternative option like sack or plastic pot for gardening. They usually do it for their own consumption but they also sell out the surplus production, if any. We will do a comparative analysis between production of CRSA and conventional methods in next year.

Outcome 4: Greater visibility of intersections of CRSA, women’s UCW and women’s economic participation leads to changes in policy and practice by sub-national, national, regional and international stakeholders by 2020.

OUTPUT 4.1 690 women's groups are linked to alliances, networks and coalitions at local, regional and national level and develop and implement a minimum of one joint advocacy plan to demand their rights regards, violence against women, unpaid care work, market access and access to sustainable agriculture resources

20% of women (21,000) attend advocacy meetings and national advocacy moments Progress: 12%

Target: 20%

Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, at least 20 % (1,200) of target women have been facilitated to participate in advocacy moments including IRWD, Kilimanjaro initiatives and 16 days of activism. Women were able to join fellow women to present their demands towards addressing UCW and CRSA related challenges, including climate change effects and inadequate access to markets. The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion committed to establish childcare centres at one per cell. In Bangladesh, a total of 50 women leaders from Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha district attended national level advocacy meetings, such as the 2

nd

national women farmers’ convention on 18 October 2016 at CIRDAP, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Major discussion points were; recognition of women farmers, CRSA, women’s access to markets and the right to food bill. Under the 16 days of activism, the POWER project organized and observed International Day for Elimination Violence against Women, Begum Rokey Dibosh and International Human Rights Day 2016 at two unions in Lalmonirhat and five unions in Gaibandha district respectively. About 830 women from each group represents and participants in these days observation in both districts. It was created awareness among community people. This also established a good relation between women groups, Upazila level government Officials, local government- Union Parishads and Upazila Parishads, other stakeholders and journalists that can be capitalised by women’s groups to create their access to other services of government and local government.

This is planned in the next years in Ghana and Pakistan

Activities which contribute to Output 4.1

4.1.2. 690 women's groups are linked to networks, alliances and coalitions meet to develop joint advocacy plans regards UCW, violence against women, market access and sustainable agriculture) (Each group will meet as follows - In Ghana at least twice; Rwanda at least once per year; Bangladesh at least twice per year; Pakistan at least four times per year and develop at least one joint advocacy plan per country)

In Bangladesh, 94 out of 200 women groups have linkage with two national level alliances –KKM (Kendrio Krishok Moitree-Central Alliance of Farmers) and PRANTOJAN. KKM is a large network of marginalised farmers of Bangladesh working for promoting sustainable and climate resilient agriculture and recognition of women farmers. PRANTAJON is a national network of micro enterprises focusing on market promotion of products of small and micro enterprises. The POWER project leverages the existing relationship between PRANTAJAN and Kendrio Krishok Moitree-KKM. The 94 pre-existing groups are already members of KKM and PRANTAJON. A meeting with ActionAid International visiting team and the Vice President of AFA (Asian Farmer Association) and President of KKM, Ms. Shazeda Begum along with POWER Project Manager Mr. Helal Uddin was held in October 2016. In the meeting discussion held on KKM next plan of action, participation in the SAARC for incorporating intersection between women economic empowerment, CRSA, unpaid care work, women access to market and VAW into the relevant policy/ies of SAARC, inclusion of new federation with KKM. In December, two representatives of KKM visited the Kanchipara Union Federation and Shongrami Nari Dal of Kanchipara Union in Gaibandha. They visited the Day Care Centre also and had discussions with the federation. They expressed their satisfaction by observing group level activities and shared the format of membership with KKM. Now new groups will take necessary initiative to become members of KKM. During this time primary communication with the networks as KHANI Bangladesh has been made by AAB to link the women’s group to various alliances, networks and coalitions. Since 2009, the KHANI-Bangladesh network has represented 40 local and national organizations and social activists with various expertise (including media, individuals, fisher folk, women, social and professional groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs)). By utilising a working knowledge of producer communities the network can effectively address critical concerns related to food and agriculture governance in the context of national and global food insecurity. KHANI-Bangladesh works through joint lobbying to influence the implementation of the right to food and uphold food right issues in national and regional spheres Further activities will be undertaken in Ghana, Pakistan and Rwanda in 2017

4.1.3 690 women groups supported (selection of members) to attend annual advocacy meetings and key national advocacy moments to ensure demands are heard (200 groups in Ghana, 200 in Rwanda, 200 in Bangladesh and 90 in Pakistan)

A total of 203 women groups have attended annual advocacy meetings (200 in Rwanda and 3 in Ghana). In Rwanda, 600 women from the 200 women groups were supported to participate in IRWD celebration, Kilimanjaro Initiative and districts agricultural shows. It was an opportunity for women to market their products and present their demands of UCW and CRSA. In Ghana, the leaders of women groups were supported to participate in a national dialogue on climate change and CRSA forum facilitated by GAWU and Peasant farmers Association with support from AAG staff. 3 representatives from women’s groups in Upper West Region including AAG staff attended the national forum in Accra. Recommendations from participants during the meeting were for government to increase funding for extension service delivery, national department of extension to take different steps, such as female extension volunteer schemes to increase availability of extension services to smallholder farmers. Promote policy literacy within the context of CRSA at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies level (MMDAs), to ensure CRSA practices are mainstreamed in their medium term development plans as well as their annual budget and planning processes and ensure a women movement or strong CRSA platform is established to lead topical discussions in that area. Planned in next years for Pakistan and Bangladesh

4.1.4 Convene regional joint advocacy and planning meetings with civil society/ women's movement with at least 5 strategic coalitions from Africa and 5 strategic organisations from Asia by 2018 ahead of ASEA, SAARC and AU summit including communiques with key messages for policy demands

A 2 day regional joint planning advocacy meeting was held in Accra Ghana with a total of 21 participants who included 8 strategic partners from East Africa Farmers Federation, General Agricultural Workers Union, Widows and Orphans Movement, Gender Centre, Abantu, NETRIGHT and Women In Leadership Development in Africa (WILDAF). The meeting worked on a contextual analysis, stakeholder mapping and opportunities, and also agreed on key messages and moments of engagement on the thematic areas of Climate resilient sustainable agriculture, market access and unpaid care work, Violence Against Women. A communique was drafted and will be finalised once the strategy is finalised. These demands will be refined by the technical reference group for Africa Advocacy. The meeting for Asia is scheduled for February 2017.

4.1.5 Create a thematic web based interactive platform for six monthly basis Webinar with key panel discussions leads on women's rights regards unpaid care work, access to productive resources and market access by 2016

The first in this series of webinars was organized by ActionAid UK on the 8 of December, 2016 to share experiences on the linkages between unpaid care work and violence against women: internally and with external partners and organisations. The webinar included a presentation from one ActionAid staff member (Ms Azumi Mesuna, POWER project Coordinator in ActionAid Ghana) and one external presenter (Ms Roslyn Nyatsanza from OXFAM Zimbabwe). The webinar attracted over 40 participants from a wide range of organisations and countries. ActionAid staff joined from the international Secretariat and 9 different national offices. There were also participants from other organisations working on these themes such as Oxfam, Age International, Action on Disability and Development, and Trocaire. Participants heard about work being done in this area at ActionAid and Oxfam and then had a chance to input their own experiences and challenges. Issues that arose in the discussion were around the need to consider women with disabilities, challenges around social norms, the role of the state as a both challenge and a solution and how contextual issues such as rights to mobility can affect women’s ability to enjoy their full rights. The webinar led to increased engagement in and understanding of the POWER project and increased understanding on the thematic areas and related challenges – both at a programming and advocacy level. The webinar recording, presentations and key discussion points will be posted on the AA website (AA international and national AA websites). The webinar will be held twice each year and the project team are in the process of identifying the specific theme for the next webinar. Lessons have been learned from this first webinar to build on the successes for the future webinars.

4.1.10 Hold regional engagements with parliamentary aspirants to secure their commitment to promote the inclusion of care services

In Ghana 6,400 rural women have engaged parliamentary aspirants in 8 districts in Ghana. Women groups are to meet and present their demands for parliamentarians and other duty bearers for consideration when they assume power in 2017. This was done in collaboration with all parliamentarians from all the major political parties which include the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) the People National Convention (PNC), the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Women highlighted the need to consider leadership positions, increase in number of extension officers, provision of infrastructure for child care centers and other facilities that would reduce the unpaid care work burden. In the Brong Ahafo region the engagement included farmer network members, Parent Teacher Association, and youth group representatives. The immediate outcome was that Parliamentarians made commitments to the women’s group leaders and Pwalugu group got extension of electricity to their rice processing centre through one of the parliamentary aspirants. The parliamentarians signed a letter of commitment to implement some of the commitments made above when they come in to office.

OUTPUT 4.2. 16 national and regional evidence documents are produced on intersections of unpaid care work and climate resilient sustainable agriculture to improve evidence base of successful interventions to remove barriers to women's economic participation.

16 of evidence documents researched and produced by the end of the project Progress: 4 Target: 16 Baseline: 0

In Rwanda, the POWER project has so far supported the production of 4 evidence documents such as a simplified version booklet of laws and policies promoting and protecting women’s rights in Rwanda, VAW mapping report in 5 five districts, budget tracking result report in 5 districts using community scorecard and social audit and baseline data on time women spend on UCW. In other countries the progress of this indicator will be measured in future years.

Activities which contribute to Output 4.2

4.2.2 Feminist research organisation The resources ear marked for this activity internationally have been consolidated and one consultant who is undertaking the baseline will also

contracted to undertake quantitative analysis of time diary data in Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan

undertake the quantitative analysis of time diary data in Ghana, Rwanda, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2017. ActionAid Bangladesh also engaged in a collaborative partnership with Research Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB) to carry out further qualitative analysis of time diary data, along with using some context specific qualitative information regarding the attitudes of community people in POWER project working areas. During this period Research Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB) conducted research on Unpaid care work (UCW) including qualitative and quantitative methods. RIB provided training of Community Mobilizers and partner staffs on this process especially the uses of time diaries. Participants were trained to fill up time diaries, household rosters and attitude format. After the training, CM and partner staffs collected time use diaries data from 600 selected participants from Gaibandha (300 participants among them 250 are women and 50 men) and Lalmonirhat (300 participants among them 250 are women and 50 men) in recall methods. These participants represented from char/wetland, mainland areas, age, sex, occupational variation, marital status etc. After collection of data it has been entered in the software and the database supplied to RIB. Besides this, they also conduct 6 FGD (3 in Lalmonirhat and 3 in Gaibandha) with women group participants, male participants and also with community people with different representation. In these FGD they discussed on Unpaid care issues including time allocation and uses by women and men, social barrier, perception at community and family level, knowledge and understanding, prestige issues, strategies to overcome these barriers. RIB analysed both quantitative and qualitative data for the research purpose and produced a full report.

OUTPUT 4.3. 7 Policy briefs on unpaid care work and women's economic empowerment are produced and shared by 2020

7 policy briefs on UCW and women's economic empowerment produced by the end of the project

A draft terms of reference has been developed for a policy brief on unpaid care work and women’s economic empowerment. Activity planned for 2017

OUTPUT 4.4. 22 advocacy initiatives are held regarding unpaid care work and women's economic empowerment with regional African and Asian platforms and international platforms

22 meetings / conferences held to discuss and promote addressing UCW as a barrier to women's economic participation by the end of the project

Cumulatively 3 meetings have so far been held to discuss and promote addressing unpaid care work as a barrier to women’s economic participation. The meetings held included the ‘Gender is My Agenda’ campaign in Rwanda, where women smallholder farmers engaged with the African Union and the Kilimanjaro initiative side event during the AU summit where rural women presented their demands on rights to land. The Permanent representatives committee meeting held in Ethiopia in October 2017 this was held with member of the Permanent Representative Committee ahead of the AU Summit in 2017 and with resident ambassadors of Senegal, Rwanda and other countries.

80% of duty-bearers and decision makers who attend meetings who provide positive feedback to ActionAid about the content and usefulness of meetings

The duty bearers engaged so far include AU officials and Permanent Representatives Committee FAO and ECA. 50% of the duty bearers provided positive feedback to ActionAid for example during the PRC meeting, the 5 ambassadors commended ActionAid on its understanding of the real issues confronting the continent and African Union and express appreciation to the efforts, and process undertaken and further encouraged Action Aid to not relent in our endeavours as advocacy is a continuous process. Another meeting was held with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).The key recommendations will be taken up is used to finalise the Advocacy strategy for the African countries involved in the project. The Executive Secretary Abdalla Hamdok underscored the importance of partnership with organizations like ActionAid where we have clout to advance and support the policy analysis function of the Economic Commission for Africa to the AU and the member states and other actors. He suggested that, moving forwards, the two organizations should have a memorandum of understanding to formalise joint engagement. During the FAO meeting, FAO also noted that ActionAid is a first point of reference on gender and women’s rights and that they would be keen to move with ActionAid in the future.

Activities which contribute to Output 4.4

4.4.3 Organise 4 side event meeting (e.g. rural women present demands at stalls outside) with AU during the CAADP Partnership Platform meetings , AU Summit by 2020 (on annual basis)

Activity completed in second quarter: A total of 6 rural women participated in the AU summit in Kigali Rwanda in July 2016. The women participated in the Gender Is My Agenda campaign ahead of the summit. The POWER project supported 3 project staff and 6 rural women to participate in the GIMA meeting. The meeting was held under the theme ‘implementing women’s rights in Africa if not now when?’ One of the rural women farmers from the POWER women’s groups participated as a panellist in the discussions during the Gender is my agenda Campaign conference (GIMAC) and shared some of the challenges. The rural woman Yenzie, Faustina Laribba from Ghana presented before more than two hundred participants. The main demands made by the women included the recognition of unpaid care work, support for women smallholder farmers. During the session on Women’s Rights and Economic Empowerment, Rural women small holder farmers on the panel where they shared the key demands to the Heads of States concerning the barriers to women’s empowerment for example Unpaid Care Work, women’s right to land, women’s lack of access to finance and extension services offered by the States. Recommendations were given out by representatives of Rural women Smallholder farmers from Nigeria and Ghana. A total of 4 rural women were supported to participate in the side event on the Kilimanjaro initiative. The women made demands on their land rights and joined other rural women in Africa in presenting the demands to the AU Chairperson Dr Dhlamini Zuma.

Action Aid Rural women farmer (Yenzie Faustina Lariba (on the right) participated as one of the panellists during GIMAC meeting.

4.4.9 Participate in annual lobby meetings with AU and NEPAD officials to raise awareness of women’s unpaid care work and food production to influence policy making and donors commitments to reduce women care burden and support rural women economic alternatives

AA has participated in the annual lobby meetings with AU permanent representatives committee members to raise awareness of women’s unpaid care work and food production to influence policy making and donors commitment to reduce care burden and support rural women. The POWER Team was represented in AU related events in Addis in Ethiopia by ActionAid Rwanda Country Director Ms Josephine Uwamariya in the event of preparations for PRC and ECA engagements. AU summit 2016 was held in Rwanda and there was opportunity for civil society to participate. The ActionAid delegation led by the Advocacy team met with 5 Ambassadors who are members of the Permanent Representative Committee of the African Union. They included His Excellency Mr. Baye Moctar Diop, the Ambassador of Senegal, His Excellency Niam Akibou, The ambassador of Benin and the Vice Chair of the bureau for PRC, His Excellency Mr. Albert Yankey the Ambassador of Ghana, Excellency Cherif Mahamat Zene the Ambassador of Chad and Chair of the Bureau of PRC and H.E Hope Tumukunde Gasatura the Ambassador of Rwanda. The team shared the main demands from ActionAid and key messages from the POWER project on women’s rights. The meetings highlighted the opportunity to input into the AU reform process by directly engaging with H.E President Kagame as convener of the reform or members of his constituted team. AA would need to participate in the process and present concrete proposals for them to take forward. This presents a great opportunity as AA Rwanda is one of the project countries. AAI was also encouraged by the ambassadors to use their offices to channel the proposals to the reform team ahead 28th AU summit in January 2017.

4.4.12 Organise international meetings to disseminate information/ research findings on CRSA during FAO event/ UN events in Rome.

AAI participated in the Food and Agriculture Organisation ‘step it up with rural women to end poverty and hunger’’ conference in Rome, Italy. The international project manager (Christina Kwangwari) with support from Alberta Guerra AAIS and ActionAid Italy participated in the meeting. The activity was moved forward from 2017 as the opportunity to participate came up. The international project manager organised side meetings with Food and Agriculture Organisation Gender Directorate. The meeting was used to introduce the current work on the POWER project, discuss the

thematic pillars on climate resilient sustainable agriculture, market access unpaid care work and violence against women. FAO is quite keen on working with AA in terms of adding voice to commitments made on CRSA and unpaid care work with governments and government ministry using evidence from the project. This is because there have already some influence with government so they committed to support and also carry some of POWER project key messages. FAO is also keen on issues of market access as well as working on Convention of Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women related work in particular article 14. In the future FAO and Actionaid will collaborate on gender sensitive value chains based on the emerging evidence from the POWER Project. FAO were quite impressed about the evidence base we have built over the years based on FLOW 1 on unpaid care work. The FAO would also play a role in information dissemination more widely within FAO and other UN agencies. FAO requested AA to input into the upcoming gender module which there are developing and in particular document case study with evidence from the ground of what worked well so that our evidence can be shared more broadly and be used to influence discussions on agriculture. This is a great opportunity to influence the discussions on CRSA and unpaid care work within FAO, UN Women and other UN agencies. This will build on ActionAid policy contribution towards UN agencies and FAO normative standards as well as programming. The meeting also discussed the gender focal points at national level where the relationship could be strengthened with FAO offices. FAO also works on labour saving technologies from the perspectives of agricultural production and have several publication FAO also gave positive feedback that ‘in terms of gender and women’s rights work, Action Aid International is our first reference point.’ S.Lehel FAO, Rome , October 2016 As a follow up to the main event, a dinner meeting was held for selected members including ActionAid. Fatima Shabodien from South Africa and the international project manager attended the donors’ roundtable meeting after the main event. During the meeting AAI raised the visibility of unpaid care work. The meeting was attended by various participants including EC, USAID, Norwegian Embassy, Swedish Embassy representatives. Among the key issues highlighted were the visibility of unpaid care work, women’s land rights and support to women smallholder farmers to access resources and access to markets. Fatima Shabodien (1

st on the left) from ActionAid South Africa was on

the panel. She highlighted the need for support to rural women’s movements. The meeting was attended by Alberta Guerra from IFSN/ActionAid international and ActionAid Italy. Side meetings were held to discuss future plans for AA advocacy. In December 2016, The Project manager for ActionAid Bangladesh Helal Uddin attended the Asia United Nations High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment engagement meeting in Bangladesh. The key messages carried forward were on unpaid care work, climate resilient sustainable agriculture, and women’s rights. AA Bangladesh also shared research finding on UCW and experience on redistribution of UCW through community managed day care centre. It was highly appreciated by the participants and also recommended to incorporate in the final report. We also shared our experiences on advocacy points for recognition of UCW by counting it in Gross Domestic Product through National System of Accounts (NSA) and develop system of value in monetaryAAB shared their experiences with the high level panel. This also helped to raise the visibility on unpaid care work and climate resilient sustainable agriculture as well as success of integrated approached which address VAW, unpaid care work, CRSA and market access being implemented in Bangladesh

Monitoring and Evaluation

Technical assistance to develop and strengthen the M&E Framework for local organisations (M&E Coordinator to work with each partner)

A detailed project MEL plan was developed and completed through consultative meetings led by the International MEL Coordinator. The MEL plan guides the all MEL processes of the project. At development stage, all countries have participated and made significant contributions. When the MEL plan was finalized, each country team had 3-4 hours of skype discussion to make sure that country teams have understand clearly the content of the MEL plan. The feedback was very positive and all participants of the skype call discussions have shown increased understanding of the use of the tool to guide the project MEL processes. The participants have rolled out M&E sessions with other field staff to ensure that the data collectors understand key component of the MEL processes

International lead consultant recruited to develop project monitoring tools to (ensure consistency across four countries)

The entire project MEL tools have been developed and embedded in the country MEL plans. The development process was very gradual and incorporated inputs from the country teams and project management team. The tools are now being used for data collection and country teams document their experience in using them, so that they are up to date. The project has also procured tablets at each country to use for data collection. The International MEL Coordinator has digitized key data collection tools i.e. time diary templates and are now being used for data collection. This makes the process faster and more accurate, and reduces the amount of the time spent on data entry.

Coordinated by international consultant, national baselines conducted and consolidated at international level

An international consultant was recruited to coordinate the baseline survey work across all countries. In each country a national consultant was recruited to lead national baseline work. The baseline data collection process has been completed in Rwanda, Bangladesh and Ghana and the consultants are working on country level reports. Pakistan has faced challenges due to government restrictions for INGOs conducting data collection for researches, studies and baseline. ActionAid Pakistan and Partners have submitted applications for a NOC (Non-Objection Certificate) to allow data collection to take place, and are waiting for the decision. In the meantime, the final baseline reports for Rwanda, Ghana and Bangladesh are expected to be available by the end of March.

Partner Advisory Group meet once per year in each country

The purpose of the project advisory group is to provide inputs and advice on project delivery to ensure the project overall outcomes are achieved and ensure coordination between implementers, community and stakeholders. The project advisory group acts as an open forum for discussion where all barriers and solutions are discussed regarding the delivery of the project activities and impact and ensures that all internal and external project stakeholders are on board and participating in the project. In Rwanda, the meeting was held in Kigali in Q4. For its first time meeting gathered participants from stakeholders include Representatives of districts(5), Directors of agriculture and natural resources(5), district staff in charge of civil society(5), Project beneficiaries(7), ActionAid Rwanda staff(10), Project implementing Projects(6), University of Rwanda College of Agriculture(1), Organic farming network(1), National women council (1) and Gender monitoring office (1). In this meeting, project achievements and challenges in 2016 were discussed and findings of baseline survey on time women spend on UCW were validated. The challenges discussed include climate change effect, cultural norms affecting women’s rights enjoyment and limited resources to address women’s unpaid care work. In Bangladesh, during December 2016, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat team formed separate Partner Advisory Groups-PAGs in their respective districts. PAG is a team consisting of representation from AAB, SKS Foundation, community and project stakeholders including Government Officials. First meeting of both PAGs were held in December 2016. It was an introductory meeting in both districts. Issues discussed in the meetings were – Terms of Reference and overall POWER project and involvement in project implementation. In the discussion they agreed on Terms of Reference and their roles in project implementation mentioned in the Terms of Reference, they got understanding about overall the POWER project and its vision, mission, objectives, activities etc. They also identified some areas of collaboration including linkage for technical support for sustainable agriculture, skill development, VAW prevention, etc. Planned for future years in Ghana and Pakistan

International Project Accountability Meetings (quarterly) -via Skype

Two international Project accountability meetings were held, one in September and another in December. The meetings discussed the progress of activities, the main challenges and monitoring and evaluation. The meetings were attended by the representatives from the four implementing countries Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The regional directors for Asia and Africa, Finance, programme and M&E staff from the Project Management team. The meetings have agreed on key actions to keep the project on track including review of budget to match spending, updating risk registers and have presented a platform for sharing experience, challenges and successes of the projects.

Monthly Project Management Meetings in each country

In Rwanda, the POWER Team has meet on monthly basis to review project implementation progress and discuss on challenges. The meeting participants were 11 project staff from, ActionAid Rwanda and project partners. The outcome of the meeting was avery successful 4

th quarter with

a 92% implementation level. In Bangladesh, partner staff of both districts holds Monthly Project Management Meeting consisting all the partner staff, community mobilizers and representative from SKS Foundation senior management. In this meeting the usual discussion agenda includes progress against action plan, problems and challenges form the last month, discussion of solutions and ways forward, conceptual discussion on any new event or activities or issues and next month’s action plan. In Pakistan, during this reporting period one project management meeting was conducted at the regional office to discuss the project progress and the internal and external challenges faced in project implementation. Country Director, Head of Programs, two Policy Officers, Regional Program Managers, three program officers, one reporting officer and two finance officers attended this meeting. Coping strategies and ways forward were also discussed and shared with the project staff. During this meeting overall current security challenges and specific to POWER project were discussed and it was suggested to project team to be vigilant about the situation in project working areas. Following actions were suggested to follow so that project implementation could not suffer by changing country context: 1) As government has restrictions on conducting research or surveys so we should avoid using shortcuts rather to wait for getting permission

from government. 2) It was also suggested to hold goodwill meetings with district departments on monthly basis and to link project activities with the involvement

of relevant department at least to let government informed about what we are doing. 3) On quarterly basis Country Director and head of program will visit regional office and will meet with any government department to support

project team in building good will relations. 4) We have to ensure the finances have been used for which it has been given to partners and for this we have to ensure monitoring framework

implementation. Quarterly program meetings will be conducted chaired by head of program for program/project reviews

Sustainable agriculture technical advisor monitoring visit

The sustainable agriculture technical advisor Celso Marcatto visited Bangladesh and conducted training on Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture to facilitators and project staff. This enabled good discussions on specific method which would be appropriate in Bangladesh given the regular flooding in the communities were POWER project is being implemented , opportunities for market access and improvements in market access. The technical advisor will undertake annual visits to support the team in Bangladesh

International Project Manager and M&E Coordinator annual monitoring visits

The International Project Manager conducted monitoring visit for Ghana, Bangladesh and Rwanda and visited communities, assessed progress to date, discussed the challenges and successes and made recommendations to the senior management. The Monitoring Evaluation Learning coordinator undertook one field in Rwanda and provided support during the piloting of baseline tools. It proved difficult to visit Pakistan due to challenges in getting VISA. Plans are ongoing for an opportunity to travel in 2017 or 2018

Training and partner capacity building

5-day partner capacity building workshop on financial management for 10 partner staff

In Rwanda, the capacity building workshop was held in Musanze district and was facilitated by the International POWER accountant and AAR head of Finance. Participants were project officers, accountants, AAR communication officer and women rights and advocacy coordinator. The training lasted for 3days.

Organise a 5 day training in research, data collection and monitoring and evaluation for 10 partner staff

In Rwanda, this training empowered project staff on how to collect M&E data, using statistical software analysis and how to interpret results and use results to draft periodic project reports. Participants acquired practical skills in designing M&E tools, data collection, analysis of data using SPSS and Excel, interpretation and presentation of findings and draft M&E reports.

AA Bangladesh + Global platform training for project team partners Finance teams (5x5 day training work shop Financial reporting)

In Bangladesh, to successfully implement the project and develop the capacity of partners, ActionAid Bangladesh and Global Platform organized the `Financial management Workshop 2016’ on 6 November 2016 at Gaibandha SKS Inn Training Centre. This was a one day workshop where 6 Project Officers, 2 Finance Officers, 2 Project Coordinators and 2 senior staffs of SKS Foundation and 4 staffs from ActionAid Bangladesh participated. Knowledge, common understanding, learning and skills learned from this workshop will help the project team to implement the project intervention smoothly in a harmonized way. Finally this will contribute to achieve the accounting standard in financial costing and reporting in the POWER project. The session discussed about accounting, cash book, ledger book, financial statement, internal audit, voucher preparation, budget, VAT, Tax and purchase system etc. After the training participants now have knowledge of Budget monitoring and preparation, cash handling process, and procurement of goods/services; the participants are now well versed with what sorts of documentation needs to be required for financial transactions of an organization. The women identified the NGOAB rules and regulations that need to be preserved and maintained by an organization for better financial management.

Challenges In Rwanda, challenges included rainfall irregularity which will affect crop yields, delayed the start of project implementation and meant the baseline survey could not be completed as planned. There were some delays in project staff recruitment, and the timing of project inception workshops and launches at different district and national levels. However, with the experience from FLOW 1 AAR has now caught up and is on track. In Bangladesh,

Some group members, especially in Fazlupur union (char area) of Gaibandha, have lost their houses during the flood and continuous river erosion. They have been migrated to a detached place from their previous area, which makes the communication with them difficult. Community Mobilizers took the challenge positively by giving extra effort. Some strategic changes have been undertaken for those groups, such as rotating training venues to reduce hardship for participants. We also revised the Risk Matrix and identified some alternatives through a participatory consultation process. We also focus on building community resilience through CRSA capacity building of the group members and focus is given to preparedness to be resilient.

Some thematic issues (like rights-analysis phase, power analysis, women’s leadership, financial terms) are harder to understand for the aged and illiterate group members. During training and weekly meetings, peers have been combined, one literate and one illiterate participant, to help each other.

In Ghana, the illiteracy levels of both men and women in rural areas hampered the smooth filling of the time diaries which is a key monitoring tool for tracking time use in the project. The next trainings on time diaries will be tailored towards training for women and men on numerals and alphabets to support them complete time diaries. In Pakistan, the challenges include:

Increased regulation and approvals required, as government of Pakistan has asked all NGOs to go for verification process as per new requirements. Surveys, baselines and researches are restricted by government of Pakistan.

Government’s restrictions towards working in Azad Jamu and Kashmir AJK led to a change of project location from district Muzaffarabad to district Shangla.

A No Objection Certification is required for all baseline or survey activities, these have been applied for but the process is taking sometime, leading to delays in the implementation of the baseline.

Due to cultural constraints at the initial stage engagement of rural women in some areas is challenging but it will be overcome through men,

traditional and religious leaders’ sensitization.

Lessons Learnt In Rwanda: Women spend approximately seven hours on Unpaid Care Work each day. If women’s economic and leadership empowerment is to be achieved, the burden of Unpaid Care Work should be reduced, recognized and redistributed. If women can access childcare centres, cooking energy and household water harvesting can significantly gain more time for economic and leadership participation so as to achieve women’s rights enjoyment In Bangladesh, below are lessons learnt:

Regular communication with local government officials helped the participants receive services and support easily. For example Lucky Begum, President of Uzzal Upahar Nari Dal, Kanchipara Union, Gaibandha. Through her leadership, communication and continuous lobby with Union Parishad she could secure 5 old allowance cards, 4 widow allowance card, 2 cards for disable persons, 3 cards for agricultural entitlement, 12 VGF cards, and incorporated name of 32 persons for 100 Days Work Scheme last year. Sensitization meetings and spouse meetings helped community people, particularly men, to understand and build awareness on unpaid care work, which they could not recognize earlier. For example Dipti Rani (28). President of `Chadni Nari Dal’. She lives in the Moddho Uria village, Uria union under Gaibandha district. Her husband name is Abdul Hai. He has a small shop. He now understands the role of women in unpaid care work and being sensitized after participating in the Spouse meeting. Now he helps her a lot by taking care of children, helping her during cooking and similar house hold choirs.

Practical session during the training on Homestead Gardening helped the participants understand the process and techniques more easily.

In Ghana, below are the lessons learnt:

Reflection Action makes it easier for group facilitation especially analysing issues about rights issues. It has enabled women to understand the need for rights analysis and prioritization of issues for a concrete course of action.

Networking and working in collaboration between traditional leaders such as community chiefs. They helped to demystify their views about unpaid care work and violence against women.

The use of community platforms such as COMBAT, reflect groups and other farmer network members who are part of power holders at community level creates a leverage for them to committee themselves and respond positively to issues of women and try to address them.

Global:

Countries operate in different contexts and this is an important practical consideration when planning in multi country projects and for international activities. For example the Pakistan context proved very difficult in working on baseline and activities and required timely flexibility to change project implementation area and strategy. Partners and countries will be at different levels so it is important to provide ongoing support for any countries, partners and staff who may face challenges during implementation.